BMX Trick
Tailwhip
A tailwhip is a BMX trick where the rider kicks the frame a full 360 degrees around the handlebars in the air, then catches the pedals to land.
Updated 3 min read694 words
A tailwhip is a BMX trick where the rider kicks the frame a full 360 degrees around the handlebars while airborne, then catches the pedals with both feet to land. The bars stay pointed forward while the frame spins around them. It is one of the most recognisable tricks in park and street riding.
Overview
The tailwhip looks bold because the bike appears to unhook from the rider. In practice, your hands stay on the grips and the frame rotates around the steering axis.
It grew out of flatland, where rotating the bike around the rider was a core part of the discipline, and then moved to park, dirt and street riding. Many riders learn it in a skatepark or on a flat piece of concrete before taking it to gaps and rails.
How to do it
Learn the tailwhip after you are comfortable with bunny hops and barspins. A soft surface such as grass or a foam pit is a good place to start.
- Hop. Get both wheels off the ground with a low, level bunny hop.
- Take your feet off. At the peak, lift your back foot off the pedal and slide your front foot toward the front of the bike.
- Kick the frame. Use your back foot to kick the seat tube or the back of the frame so it swings out and around.
- Hold the bars. Keep both hands on the grips. The frame rotates around the bars.
- Watch the frame come around. Keep your eyes on the pedals and the frame as it passes underneath you.
- Catch the pedals. Put both feet back on the pedals as the frame completes the rotation.
- Land. Bend your knees and ride away.
Foot placement
Foot placement is the part that decides whether a whip lands.
- Start: feet level on the pedals.
- Kick: your back foot pushes the frame while your front foot lifts and shifts forward.
- Return: both feet find the pedals again as the frame completes the turn.
- Keep your front foot ready. It does the job of guiding the frame back to you.
Variations
- Barspin whip. A barspin and a tailwhip combined.
- Double tailwhip. The frame completes two full rotations.
- Bar-to-whip and whip-to-bar. One trick leads into the other.
- Footjam tailwhip. The foot is jammed against the frame. See footjam tailwhip.
- Crankflip. The cranks spin through the trick. See crankflip.
- Whip on a ramp. Tailwhip off a quarter-pipe or a jump.
- Fakie tailwhip. Perform it rolling backwards.
Learning progression
Most riders break the tailwhip into steps so each part feels familiar.
- Practise the kick on the ground. Stand still, hold the bars and swing the frame around with your foot. Do it slowly, to see how the frame moves.
- Try on a soft surface. Grass or a foam pit forgives a missed catch.
- Learn a half whip. Kick the frame half a turn and bring it back, to learn the feel of the rotation.
- Add the hop. Combine with a low bunny hop, then work on height.
- Take it to a ramp or gap. Only move up once you land most attempts on flat.
Wear a helmet, gloves and shin protection. A missed whip often means a pedal hits your shin, so pads are worth the effort.
Common mistakes
- Kicking too hard. An over-kick sends the frame past you before you can catch it.
- Kicking too soft. A weak kick leaves the frame hanging mid-turn.
- Letting go of the bars. The bars are the hinge. Keep both hands on the grips.
- Late hop. A low hop leaves no time for the rotation. Hop first, then whip.
- Landing on the wrong pedal. Feet need to find the pedals together. Watch the frame, not the ground.
- Poor setup. A loose headset or wobbly forks makes the trick harder to control.
History
The tailwhip grew out of flatland riding and was later adapted for ramps, park and street. Who landed the first one is debated, and credit varies by region and era. It became widely visible through the 1990s and early 2000s as BMX media spread. See flatland, bmx in the 1990s and web edit era.
Related tricks
Frequently asked questions about Tailwhip
Is a tailwhip harder than a barspin?
Yes, for most riders. A tailwhip needs more commitment because the whole frame moves, and a missed catch means the pedals land under you, not your hands.
Do I need a freecoaster to tailwhip?
No. A cassette hub works fine. Some riders prefer a freecoaster because it lets the pedals keep moving freely if they land with the frame still turning, but it is not required.
Where does my front foot go?
Your back foot kicks the frame, and your front foot lifts clear so the frame can pass beneath it. Both feet then return to the pedals as the frame comes back around.
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