Section 9 · Technical Directives

Angles

The Code's angle scales for bending, handstands, holds, legs and twists. Each has its own deductions.

Unofficial summary. The FIG Code of Points and its newsletters are the authority; every rule links to its page there.

−0.1−0.3−0.5−1.0small · medium · large · fall — the colours the Code usesNRNot recognised by the D-Jury

E-Jury · from the E-score

Bent Arms, Legs or Body

Slight bending — up to 45°−0.1
Strong bending — over 45° to 90°−0.3
Extreme bending — over 90°−0.5NR

Some exceptions have deductions of their own:

Parallel bars: Legs bent before horizontal in the swing of a Moy or any giant, and after Bhavsar-type elements.
Horizontal bar: Legs bent during swings, and arms bent at the regrasp after flight elements.

Code 9.2.7, p. 18

E-Jury · from the E-score

Swings to or Through Handstand

Swing elements are often expected to go through the handstand, not to an exact handstand, so that the rhythm is not broken. So up to 15° off has no deduction.
The same scale applies to pommel horse circles that are off perfect cross or side support. There it is deducted every time it happens.

Up to 15°None
Over 15° to 30°−0.1
Over 30° to 45°−0.3
Over 45°−0.5NR

On pommel horse, the D-Jury does not recognise the element only if it is more than 45° off for the greater part of the element. Horizontal bar has an additional rule of its own.

Code 9.2.12, p. 19 · Code 9.2.13, p. 19

E-Jury · from the E-score

Holds off Their Perfect Position

This scale is for strength holds and simple holds. It measures the body, arms or legs off the perfect hold position. On rings, the same scale applies when the shoulders or body rise above the hold position in a swing to a hold or a press.

On floor, the Manna and the V-sit have their own scale, from Newsletter 1. It is on the Body Positions page.

The hold-angle scale — small over 5° to 20°, medium over 20° to 45°, large over 45° and not recognised — with eleven drawings of strength holds off their perfect position, most of them on rings — Hold angles (Art. 9.2.9). Rings uses the same scale for rising above the hold. — Code, p. 19.

Up to 5°None
Over 5° to 20°−0.1
Over 20° to 45°−0.3
Over 45°−0.5NR

Code 9.2.9, p. 19 · Code 9.2.14, p. 20 · NL1, p. 4

E-Jury · from the E-score

Bent Arms in Holds and Presses

In holds and strength presses, the arms stay straight throughout. Where it matters, the body also stays straight. This scale is stricter than the scale for other bending.