Section 14 · Parallel Bars

Parallel Bars: The Exercise

The bars, the mount, back swings that go nowhere, direction after a handstand, and what is not permitted.

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

The gymnast

The Bars

The bars are 180 cm from the top of the mat and 200 cm from the floor. A short run to the mount is allowed only here and on horizontal bar.

The parallel bars from the side and the front, with their dimensions: 350 cm long, 180 cm from the top of the mat, 200 cm from the floor, 42 to 52 cm apart — The parallel bars — Code, p. 93.

Code 14, p. 93 · Code 8.3.3, p. 17

E-Jury · from the E-score

The Mount

Start: The mount, or the run-up to it, starts from a still stand with the legs together.
Begins: The moment the feet leave the ground. They leave it together.
Not allowed: Swinging one leg or stepping into the mount.
Allowed: A vaulting board at the height of the landing mats.

Pre-elements are not allowed. A pre-element is anything that rotates more than 180° around any axis of the body before the hands grasp the rails.

One-leg step or swing on the mount−0.3
Pre-element−0.5
From stand, jump to L-sit−0.3
From upper arm, kip to support−0.3

The last two are compositional errors, from Newsletter 3. Newsletter 3 does not say which jury takes them. The E-Jury records compositional errors. Newsletter 3 does not limit the kip from upper arm to the mount.

Newsletter 3, p. 4 · in force from 1 January 2026

Jumping from stand to L-sit, and kipping from upper arm to support, are deducted 0.3 as compositional errors.

Code 14.2.1, p. 93 · Code 14.3, p. 95 · Code 5.4.2, p. 13 · NL3, p. 4

E-Jury · from the E-score

Back Swings That Go Nowhere

A back swing in support or upper arm hang is deducted if it:

leads to no value part, and
only reverses and swings down in or to a lower hang or support.

The Code's examples:

upper arm hang back swing → layaway → glide kip
support back swing → layaway → front uprise, or hang
support back swing to handstand (also with 2 sec) → layaway → upper arm hang, hang or support
glide kip → upper arm hang or momentary support → lay back to upper arm hang
handstand → lower → shoulder roll forward

Layaway on the back swing−0.3

Code 14.2.1, p. 93 · Code 14.3, p. 95

E-Jury

Direction After a Swing to Handstand

After a swing to handstand, the next element continues in the same direction. Examples are a ½ turn, a Gatson or a Healy.

The next element reverses the directionReversal of direction deduction

The Code names the deduction but does not print its size.

Code 14.2.1, p. 93

D-Jury

Extra Support in Turns on One Arm

No extra support is allowed in elements with turns on one-arm support:

giant swing with turn
backward uprise with turn
forward uprise with full turn
Felge elements with turn, and similar elements

An extra support during the turnElement ends where the support occurs

Code 14.2.1, p. 93

D-Jury

Not Permitted

A strength or hold element not listed in the difficulty tablesNR
A salto or dismount from side hang on one barNR
Junior: a salto with reception in upper arms or bent-arm supportNR
Junior: any element with a red dot in the tables, including every triple salto dismountNR

Newsletter 3, p. 1 · in force from 1 January 2026

Every triple salto, and so every triple salto dismount, carries a red dot for juniors.

Code 14.2.1, p. 93 · Code 7.6, p. 16 · NL3, p. 1