Member of the Month

GayWolf420
June, 2025

Online

Welcome to the Newschoolers forums! You may read the forums as a guest, however you must be a registered member to post. Register to become a member today!

Trouble with back switch ups?

profile picture
Zone
Posts: 206 - Karma: 322
Does anyone else slide off a rail when doing a back swap? If so, any tips on how to stay on the rail?
12 years ago
25 2
profile picture
tcurle
Posts: 1270 - Karma: 5,376
Hop
12 years ago
3 0
profile picture
Miomo
Posts: 4302 - Karma: 14,137
Glue
12 years ago
3 0
profile picture
JahJahBinks
Posts: 3567 - Karma: 461
You're probably letting your momentum take you too far because it's uncomfortable when learning blind swaps. Look at the end of the rail, be completely horizontal on the rail, grip, spin, and practice until you find something that works. Shitty advice probably, but whatever
12 years ago
1 0
profile picture
BWalmer
Posts: 9141 - Karma: 12,886
My "trick" for back swaps (at least while learning them) is to have your right hand (assuming you slide right foot forward) dropped back slightly behind you before your get on the rail (so on the approach...kinda like you're gonna 270 on, but not quite as far) and then when you get on the rail continue bringing your arm around and just as it crosses infront of you jump up and complete the turn, this will keep you centered over the rail. Using a front toe dip scissor (like for a back 270 out) also helps, combining these two things together can lead to a smooth, more controlled back swap which will help keep you on the rail and can help with combos after you get used to them (since you can do them sooner you can set your edge easier for combos). Finally, practice sliding opposite foot forward....it can be a HUGE help.
12 years ago
6 0
profile picture
Zone
Posts: 206 - Karma: 322
word. thanks for the advice, i'll try it tomorrow!
12 years ago
0 0
profile picture
wasatch_rat
Posts: 1774 - Karma: 3,011
this if you wanna really think it through. lip on surface swap on boxes also helps you get the motion smooth.
12 years ago
0 0
profile picture
CrotchKiller
Posts: 9037 - Karma: 6,944
To put it simply, lock on before you initiate the switch up. It sounds like you're not locking completely
12 years ago
3 0
profile picture
Thawg
Posts: 360 - Karma: 542
or you can keep doing what you're doing but just sit back and get it blunted, that's what I did when I learned it, but I learned how to do it at the end of this past season(literally the last day). So I haven't gotten to experiment with it yet, but what those other guys are telling you to do sounds good.
12 years ago
1 0
profile picture
ESB
Posts: 9274 - Karma: 10,659
You're probably letting your spin on the switch-up carry you off the side of the rail. Think about completing that 180-degree spin while still traveling in the same line down the rail. You might have to alter the way that you set your swap so it doesn't set you to one side or the other.
12 years ago
0 0
profile picture
smelllllllllly
Posts: 55 - Karma: 173
whats a back switch up?

12 years ago
0 0
profile picture
Crispy.
Posts: 6127 - Karma: 7,764
Assuming you know what a switch up is...
doing a switch up spinning back towards the beginning of the rail. If you were to stand after the rail and watch someone doing a back switch up you would see their back first, opposed to a front switch up where you'd see their torso.
12 years ago
1 0
profile picture
Wolfgang.
Posts: 807 - Karma: 866
Make sure to spot the end of the rail as you come on.
12 years ago
0 0
profile picture
smelllllllllly
Posts: 55 - Karma: 173
so like a backflip on a rail?
12 years ago
3 0
profile picture
WVskiing
Posts: 3007 - Karma: 1,949
I always through on the rail like I am doing a slow 3 and then just jump in the middle and follow through
12 years ago
0 0
profile picture
Crispy.
Posts: 6127 - Karma: 7,764
Basically
12 years ago
0 0
All times are Eastern (-4); Currently it's 8:15AM