TOWARD AN IDEAL PERFORMANCE OF CIRCLES ON POMMEL HORSE —CENTRIFUGAL FORCE AND MASS-CENTRE VELOCITY—

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To advance mechanical understanding of circles on pommel horse, we analysed the centrifugal force and the kinematics of whole-body mass centre during circles performed by five high-scored and five low-scored gymnasts. Three-dimensional kinematic and kinetic data were recorded using a motion capture system and force plates set under a no-leg pommel horse. The results showed that the high-scored gymnasts kept a greater mass-centre velocity and centrifugal force during the single-hand support phases than the low-scored gymnasts. It also seemed to be a reasonable interpretation, however, that the double-hand support phases were more complicated and difficult from a mechanical standpoint. Even the high-scored gymnasts who participated in this study might have room for further improvement especially in the double-hand support phases.