3 Types of High Jump Technique Explained
The three high-jump techniques most often discussed are the scissors technique, the straddle and the Fosbury flop. Each describes a different way of approaching the bar, taking off, rotating the body and landing. The styles developed at different points in athletics history, and they do not have equal importance in modern competition.
High jumpers must clear the bar without knocking it from its supports. They normally use one-foot take-off, but the body position over the bar and the landing method vary considerably between techniques. Although textbooks may list three main types, other historical variations—especially the Western roll—are also part of high-jump history.
1. Scissors technique
The scissors style is one of the earliest high-jump methods. The athlete approaches the bar from an angle, takes off with the foot closest to the bar, and raises the legs one after another in a motion resembling the opening and closing of scissors.
The jumper generally remains relatively upright while crossing the bar. The lead leg rises first, followed by the trailing leg, and the athlete lands on the feet or lower body on the other side. This upright landing makes the technique more suitable for older landing surfaces, before deep foam landing mats became standard.
Advantages and limitations
- It is comparatively simple to understand and teach.
- The upright body position can feel controlled for beginners.
- It can be used when an athlete has limited access to modern high-jump equipment.
- It usually does not provide the same bar-clearance efficiency as newer techniques.
- The athlete’s centre of mass generally travels higher relative to the bar, which can reduce performance potential.
The scissors jump remains useful for introductory practice and historical study, but it is uncommon among elite high jumpers.
2. Straddle technique
The straddle, sometimes called the belly roll, became one of the leading high-jump methods before the Fosbury flop took over. The athlete approaches the bar on a curved or angled path, drives upward from one foot and rotates so that the stomach faces the bar during the clearance.
The lead leg rises over the bar first. The torso then passes across it, followed by the hips and trailing leg. During the final part of the movement, the athlete turns the body so the landing can be made safely on the back or side of the body.
Why the straddle was effective
The straddle allows the body to lie relatively close to the bar while the jumper clears it. Strong athletes can generate substantial upward force and use an aggressive approach to carry the hips over the bar. At its peak, the technique was used successfully at the highest level of international athletics.
Its main disadvantages are technical complexity and the demand for precise timing. The athlete must coordinate the approach, take-off, forward rotation and leg clearance. The straddle also requires a suitable landing mat because the landing is not naturally made on the feet.
3. Fosbury flop
The Fosbury flop is the dominant modern high-jump technique. The jumper approaches the bar along a curved path, takes off with the outside foot, rotates during flight and crosses the bar with the back facing downward. The shoulders and head pass over first, followed by the arched back, hips and legs.
After take-off, the athlete raises the knees and allows the body to rotate backward. At the point of maximum clearance, the back is arched and the hips are lifted over the bar. The legs are then brought upward so that the heels do not strike the bar. The athlete lands on the upper back and shoulders on a foam mat.
Why the Fosbury flop is now standard
The technique can allow the jumper’s centre of mass to pass below the level of the bar while the body arches over it. That does not remove the need to raise the body, but it can improve clearance efficiency compared with more upright methods. The curved approach also helps create the horizontal and rotational forces needed for the body position in flight.
The flop is not automatically easy to learn. It requires a reliable curved approach, a consistent take-off point, backward rotation and confidence in landing on the back. Poor take-off distance or an uncontrolled curve can cause the athlete to drift into the bar or lose vertical height.
How the three high-jump styles differ
| Technique | Body position over the bar | Typical landing | Modern use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scissors | Mostly upright, with the legs passing over separately | Feet or lower body | Teaching, recreation and historical use |
| Straddle | Stomach facing the bar | Back or side | Historical elite technique; rarely used now |
| Fosbury flop | Back facing the bar, with an arched body | Upper back and shoulders | Standard technique in modern competition |
The biggest practical difference is the relationship between body position and the bar. Scissors jumpers cross in an upright position, straddle jumpers rotate over the bar face-down, and flop jumpers clear it back-first. These positions affect the approach angle, take-off foot, rotation pattern, flexibility demands and landing requirements.
Are these the only high-jump techniques?
No. The phrase “three types of high jump” usually refers to three major styles selected for basic classification, not to every technique ever used. The Western roll is another historically important method. It resembles the straddle in some respects, but the athlete crosses the bar on the side rather than with the stomach directly facing downward.
Some teaching resources also distinguish variations by approach pattern, take-off position or the exact way the legs cross the bar. Names can therefore differ between schools, coaching manuals and athletics histories. The three-style classification is useful because it separates the early scissors method, the belly-down rotational methods and the modern back-first flop.
Which high-jump style should an athlete learn?
For modern athletics, the Fosbury flop is normally the most relevant technique because it is the method used by nearly all successful elite high jumpers. However, beginners may first practise scissors jumps to learn one-foot take-off, bar approach and body control. Coaches may also use simplified drills before introducing a complete flop.
The choice must account for the available landing surface. A full Fosbury flop or straddle should be performed only with an appropriate high-jump mat and qualified supervision. A safe progression usually develops the approach rhythm, take-off mechanics, flight position and landing separately rather than asking a new athlete to combine every element immediately.
In short, the scissors, straddle and Fosbury flop are three major high-jump techniques with distinct histories and mechanics. The scissors is the simplest and oldest of the three, the straddle was a powerful pre-flop method, and the Fosbury flop is the modern competitive standard.
