Gymnastics equipment: What is it and how can you use it?

by Joost Nusselder Updated on: June 18, 2022

Gymnastics equipment is a piece of sports equipment used to perform gymnastic exercises touring. The dimensions and use of materials are largely determined by the requirements set by the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) and the national sports associations.

In this article I will tell you everything about gymnastics equipment and what you should pay attention to when purchasing.

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What is a gymnastics device?

Gymnastics equipment is a piece of sports equipment used to do gymnastic exercises. The dimensions and materials used for gymnastic equipment are determined by the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) and the national sports federations.

What kind of exercises can you do on a gymnastics device?

Gymnastics with a Twist

When you think of gymnastics, you probably think of a boring exercise you had to do in school. But gymnastics can be much more than that! There are different types of gymnastics equipment that allow you to change and improve your exercises. Below you will find a list of exercises that you can do on the different gymnastics equipment.

The bar

The beam is one of the most popular gymnastics equipment. You can do various exercises on this, such as turning, swinging, somersaults and pirouettes. These exercises can be combined to create a routine that you can show to your audience.

The floor

The floor is another popular piece of gymnastics equipment. Here you can do exercises such as jumps, somersaults, twists and acrobatic movements. You can also use different styles of music to enhance your routine on the floor.

The Rackstick

De horizontal bar is a device that is only used in men's gymnastics. Here you can do exercises such as twisting, swinging, somersaults and other acrobatic movements. You can also use different styles of music to enhance your horizontal bar routine.

The Pegasus

The pegasus is a vaulting table that is used in the vault section. Here you can do exercises such as somersaults, twists, jumps and other acrobatic movements. You can also use different styles of music to enhance your routine on the pegasus.

The Horse Vault

The pommel horse is a device that looks a lot like the regular horse, but with two vaulting stirrups. Here you can do exercises such as twisting, swinging, somersaults and other acrobatic movements. You can also use different styles of music to enhance your pommel horse routine.

So if you're looking for a fun way to do gymnastics, these gymnastics equipment are a great way to improve your practice. Try them all out and see which one you like best!

What are the different types of gymnastics equipment?

When you think of gymnastics, you probably think of the Olympic all-around. Here gymnastics are performed on 8 different gymnastics equipment. These are: the floor, the bridge, the horizontal bar, the rings, the beam, the buck, the pegasus and the jump. But there are many more gymnastic equipment that are used for lower level competitions or for demonstrations.

Floor

The floor is a square mat of 12×12 meters that is used for gymnastics. Both men and women gymnastics on this device. The floor has a built-in suspension, so that extra height can be obtained during the exercise. Also, the edges of the mat are marked with lines.

Use

The bridge consists of two beams or slats on either side of the mat. The gymnast/star stands on the bridge and performs various exercises, such as twists and somersaults.

horizontal bar

The horizontal bar is the same as the bridge, with the big difference that instead of two parallel bars there is one bar. This part only occurs in men's gymnastics. The horizontal bar hangs at swing height, meaning a gymnast can hang from it without their feet touching the ground. Common elements on the horizontal bar include swing elements, such as the giant swing, and twists, such as the backflip.

Pegasus

The pegasus is a vaulting table that is used in the vault section. It consists of one central, steel base, with the vaulting table mounted there. This device is adjustable in height up to 1,3 meters. The gymnast/star jumps from the vaulting table and performs various exercises such as somersaults and turns.

What is the history of gymnastics equipment?

The History of Gymnastics Equipment: From the Ancient Greeks to Today

Gymnastics has been a popular sport since the time of the Ancient Greeks. Exercises were done in China and India to keep fit and limber, but it was the Greek culture that took the sport to the next level. They devised rules and competitions to approach the sport more professionally.

In the 18th century there was a renewed interest in the forgotten sport. The German Friedrich Ludwig Jahn was the founder of modern gymnastics and invented all kinds of gymnastics equipment, such as the horizontal bar, rings and the bridge. The first gymnastics association was founded in the Netherlands in 1830.

The horse: the oldest gymnastic apparatus

The oldest gymnastic apparatus is the horse. This was already invented in the time of the Ancient Greeks and is still used in gymnastics. The horse is an artificially made device consisting of a wooden frame with a leather or rubber mat on top.

Different types of gymnastics equipment

There are several types of gymnastic equipment used in Olympic all-around, such as beam, floor, rings, parallel bars, horizontal bar, and horse. There are also other gymnastic equipment used for lower level competitions or demonstrations, such as the cabinet, queen, crossbar, cube, and trampoline.

Rhönradturnen: a separate gymnastic discipline

The rhön wheel is also gymnastic equipment, but it is a separate gymnastic discipline. The rhön wheel is a round wheel consisting of a metal frame with a leather or rubber mat on top. It is used to do acrobatic exercises.

What is a Horse?

The horse is a real champion!

The horse is a gymnastic device that is mainly used in men's and women's gymnastics. It is more elongated in shape than a buck and is used for jumping and vaulting. The horse is a real champion when it comes to jumping, especially at the higher levels. But you can also do many exercises with the horse at the lower levels.

What is the difference between the horse and a buck?

The horse: the royal device

The horse is the royal device in gymnastics. It is an elongated device that is used for the higher levels. The gymnast jumps the length of the horse. Unlike the buck, which is mainly used at the lower levels, the horse has no box.

The trestle: the versatile device

The trestle is a versatile device with a square platform with rounded corners. The deck is made of a soft material, usually smooth leather. There are several jumps possible over the trestle, which require a run-up. It is the most commonly used gymnastics equipment at the lower levels.

What is the difference between a pegasus and the horse?

The Pegasus Height

The pegasus is a device that is used by both men and women in gymnastics. It is a replacement for the old gymnast horse and has a maximum height of 1,35 meters. The length is 1,20 meters and the width is 90 centimeters. The vaulting table is padded and slopes downwards at the front to prevent serious injuries.

The Gymnastics Horse

The gymnastics horse is an apparatus that is mainly used by the ladies in gymnastics. It is a device with a bracket and a vaulting table. The height of the device is usually between 1,20 and 1,35 meters. The length is 1,20 meters and the width is 90 centimeters. There are also models with a larger size, which are often used in schools and training.

The Difference Between a Pegasus and the Horse

The main difference between the pegasus and the gymnast is that the pegasus has no stirrups. The pegasus also has a vaulting table that is padded and slopes down at the front to prevent serious injuries. In addition, the pegasus has a maximum permitted height of 1,35 meters.

Conclusion

Conclusion You can do many different exercises with a gymnastic device and it is therefore an excellent tool to train your muscles. For example, you can train with it to jump or turn, or simply to improve your balance.

Joost Nusselder, the founder of Speelkeuze.nl is a content marketer, father and loves trying out new toys. As a child he came into contact with everything related to games when his mother started the Tinnen Soldaat in Ede. Now he and his team create helpful blog articles to help loyal readers with fun play ideas.