Tuck Handstand Alignment - Simplified Guide
After learning the straight handstand, the tuck will be a great next position to further advance in your hand balance training. Compared with the straight handstand, it requires a bit more shoulder mobility and hip compression. Done correctly, it can feel easier to hold than the "taller" positions due to the lower center of gravity, the added compression, and extra angles.
However, understanding the right technique can be tricky due to so much conflicting information online and variations from different disciplines. Ideally, your focus should be on balancing from the hips in the front to the knees in the back, with your shoulders and arms positioned in the middle.
From a profile view, your back should have a slight slant at about a 45° angle. Hip compression is a crucial element that plays a big role in maintaining stability and control in the tuck. It locks everything in place, preventing the lower body from becoming too loose. Without proper hip compression, the legs can pop up abruptly like a spring, resulting in the loss of the desired squeezing effect that the tuck offers.
When training your tuck handstands, look for the three points of an inverted triangle in these areas:
Shoulders - establishing the base in the middle
Hip - aligned past your head and shoulders
Knees - in line with your hips creating a horizontal line in your thighs, activating compression
