Twisting and armstand dives present a different scenario. The first numeral denotes whether the dive will include twists, or start from an armstand. If the dive begins with a 5, twists are included. If it begins with a 6, the dive begins from an armstand.
Now the fun begins. The second number in twisters and armstand dives denotes what direction the dive will move. The third number tells the number of somersaults, and the fourth, the number of twists. The final identification tells the position of the dive.
The number that indicates the number of twists:
- ½ twist – 1
- 1 twists - 2
- 1 ½ twists - 3
- 2 twists - 4
- 2 ½ twists - 5
- 3 twists - 6
- 3 ½ twists - 7
- 4 twists – 8
For instance, a 5122D is a forward somersault with one twist. The 5 tells you that the dive includes twists, and the 1 tells you that it will move in the forward direction. The third number tells the diver that there is one somersault. The final number denotes 1 twist and the D indicates that the dive is in free position. A 5233D is a back 1 ½ somersaults with 1 ½ twists - the 5 tells the diver that it is a twisting dive, the 2 denotes the backward direction, the 3 indicates 1 ½ somersaults, the fourth number indicates 1 ½ twists, and finally the D indicates that the dive is in free position.
For an armstand dive, the procedure is similar. The 6 will denote an armstand dive and the second number tells the direction. A 612B is an armstand, forward somersault in pike. The 6 tells the diver that it is an armstand, and the 1 tells the direction, the 2 indicates that there is 1 somersault, and the B indicates pike position.
Now if that hasn’t confused you, combine the twisting category and the armstand category for a final mind-boggling dive. A 6245D is a back armstand double with 2 ½ twists – the 6 indicates armstand, the 2 tells the diver the direction is backwards, the 4 denotes 2 somersaults, the 5 indicates 2 ½ twists, and the D lets the diver, judges, officials and awestruck crowd know that it is in free position.
All these numbers may seem a bit confusing, and to most beginners it is. After a while though, these numbers become second nature. It just takes a bit of practice.
