Gymnastics and the Full-In

There are many different ways to perform a full-in

Female gymnast performing back flip on balance beam

David Madison/Getty Images

In gymnastics, a full-in means that the gymnast performs a full-twisting double back (two flips backward) with the twist happening in the first flip.

A full-in can be done in the tucked, piked or layout position (when the gymnast's body is fully stretched out with the legs straight). It can be used as a dismount off the uneven bars, beam, rings, parallel bars, or high bar; as a tumbling pass on the floor; or as a move on a trampoline.

Other Terms

A full-in can also be called a full-in, back-out.

The double back may also be referred to as a double back salto. A salto is a type of flip where you flip from your feet and land on your feet again, without using your hands. For a tucked salto, tuck your knees into your chest as you flip over, almost like doing a somersault in the air. You can do a salto both forward and backward, but a full-in refers to two backward saltos. A salto can be done on many different apparatus. 

Not to Be Confused With

  • If a gymnast performs the twist on the second flip it is called a full-out.
  • If the gymnast splits the twist between the two flips it is called a half-in-half-out.

See the Difference Yourself

Alternate Spellings

Some people write "full in" without the hyphen. The Meriam-Webster Dictionary doesn't list a preference in spelling.