Backwards Thru-n-Flip

Flipping at the Finish of the Backwards Through

sometimes tricks bleed together and become something new. the Backwards Through combined with a flip creates a new skill – not quite a leap, not quite a flip

The Backwards Through-n-Flip is a hybrid move. Attaching the flip attached directly to the end of the set up move creates a distinct new trick.


3 keys to the Backwards Through-n-Flip:

  1. reduce linear speed
  2. use takes
  3. placement for vertical trajectory

Safety = Low Linear Speed

this trick is dependent upon your dog leaping up and not forward or ahead. the dog’s linear speed from back to front should be low. the turning you see the dog doing in this picture is about reducing linear speed and having the leap take place with a vertical focus.

The Backwards Through-n-Flip requires a strong vertical takeoff that allows the dog the time and inertia after biting the disc to finish navigating the flip. The dog’s rear end needs to get up really high to make a flip happen. If the dog is moving too fast back to front on this maneuver there can be serious consequences in terms of trauma and repetitive stress.

As a handler you can adjust your position so your dog has to turn rather sharply. This sharp turn drastically reduces linear speed and makes the skill safe.

Takes Create a Sense of Timing and Placement, Reduce Stress, and Foster Understanding

if you are new to this skill or are experiencing less than perfect performance go back to takes. hundreds of reps using takes might be required to attain understanding of time and place. once you have that, start throwing.

A Take is a disc targeted and bitten in the hand. It’s a catch of a non-thrown disc, a static target. Using a take to teach the Backwards Through-n-Flip is important for a bunch of reasons.

The disc is a blind target in this skill. The dog cannot see it until they commit to the backwards through. Using a take allows the dog to get comfortable with the placement and timing and begin to trust that the target will be there.

As a handler, it’s hard to know where and when this skill needs to happen because the dog is starting behind you. Placement that helps or accentuates the dog’s navigation of the flip can be developed, played with, and dialed in making for enhanced safety and performance.

Takes also enable you to ease the dog down from the skill to reduce the impact of multiple repetitions and to shape a flight trajectory.

Target Placement and Trajectory for a Vertical Takeoff

the disc should be pulled up and in as soon as the dog targets it. start out about 8-10 inches in front of your body at your belly button and pull upwards to a few inches in front of your chin. up and in.

You want to pull your dog’s head towards you at take off. That looking up and back head position is important to giving your dog’s legs the freedom to move up and in front of the dog. Those rear legs have to get up and in front of the dog early and aggressively to complete the flip. Moving the target towards you and up forces the dog to look up and back.

This movement also helps to reduce the need for speed once the target is acquired.