The gymnast should remain hollow until just before hitting the mat. One of the biggest hindrances to a layaway is the fear of peeling. If the gymnast is arched as they initiate the swing there is a significantly increased chance of peeling. The downward swing should be hollow, and extended in the shoulders. Support swing As a gymnast begins to learn a basic swing it should be stressed that getting their feet high is not their primary goal.
Gymnasts have a tendency to pike in the front of the swing to get their feet above the bars.
This ends up killing the swing. The gymnasts body should be straight from shoulders to toes with special consideration to pushing the shoulders back and hips up in the front swing. As the swing develops the gymnast should hollow in the back swing and push their shoulders down. The gymnast should shrug their shoulders through the bottom of the swing. Upper arm swing New gymnasts will complain incessantly about the pain these swings cause.