Any scratch spin tips?

Question

Whenever I try to do the scratch spin, I can't really cross my free leg around and I sort of lose balance. Any tips or advice? Thanks :)

Answer 1

well hj seems to have it all figured out, so i will only add a little more.

make sure you don't "rock" on your toe as you spin, meaning pressing into the toe and keeping that stretch steady and even. make sure your head is in line with your spinning leg, and your swinging or the free leg is slow and even, not too rushed. once you cross your leg, slowly, and evenly cross that leg over so it almost looks like you are spinning on two feet. be sure to keep your balance as well as you can, and just practice with the best technique you can.

happy skating!!!

Answer 2

So im gonna assume you enter your scratch spin the right way: You know, backcrossovers with the long entry edge into the spin?

So alot of the problems come from that entry edge! Hold it a long time, and if you hold it long enough you shouldnt have to force yourself to spin. You should automatically start spinning because of that deep edge.  Also make sure it looks like a semicircle, and is a long sweeping egde. Keep the leg that is on the ice's knee bent, then when you start spinning, straighten it.

For arms, wind them  up on the end of the crossovers right before you step into the spin. Let your arms out during the entry egdge to to propel you into the spin.

When your in the spin, keep the free leg out until you feel centered on your "sweet spot" of the blade (I mean the middle of the blade, not the end, or the toe pick). So once you feel secure with your leg out, start to bring it in. Bring it slowly to above your knee, about mid thigh. As it gets there, start pulling down so that the entire motion is smooth.

Arms: When your free leg is out and you are just getting centered, your arms should be out, not touching eachother, but in a big big circle. When your free leg pulls into the mid thigh area, THEN start pulling your arms in (like your squeezing the air out of a beach ball) One really really common problem is that people bring their arms and free leg in at the EXACT SAME time, which will pull you off center. Your arms should come in only A LITTLE later than your free leg. So your leg comes in around your thigh, then you pull in your arms.

Just bring your arms in, dont push them down as well. Alot of people have the arms out, bring them in, then push them down, like what happens with the leg. This is bad because it synchronizes your arms and legs to go at the same time, but  I have already said they should be slightly staggered.

That should help!