BailongBall Forms – an Example, Part 4

In this series of blogs, we introduce you to BailongBall Forms. After having launched series on the disciplines of Multiplay and Freestyle, this series on the discipline of Forms aims to complete your picture of our sport. This series breaks down a particular BailongBall Form into several parts. In each part, we cover round about two elements. At the end of the last part, you will have the entire picture of the Form and tips and tricks in your bag as you have progressed thru each part.

In the first part of this series, we explained what sets a Form apart from the other BailongBall disciplines. We introduced the preparatory element of a particular form, followed by a second element, called “The Mirror”. In part two we covered elements three and four – the horizontal turning and the “Cloud Hands”. Part 3 features a variant for changing directions, as well as the “dynamic 8”. As with the first three parts, this part will also introduce two new elements. And again, we pick up exactly where we left off the time before.

• Mirror & release ball (to the right from the camera perspective)
• Change of direction
• Mirror & release ball (to the left from the camera perspective)
• Rainbow Turning

“Mirror & Release Ball”

Left to Right

Footwork

• To initiate each Mirror (circle), lower your weight while bending your knees slightly – this will get you the momentum you need.
• Move both arms in large parallel circles.
• Your body’s center of gravity follows the racket – as the racket swings from right to left, you also shift your weight from the right to the left leg and vice versa.

Change of Direction

Footwork

• Place your feet together to initiate the 180° turn
• Perform the turn immediately after letting the ball out while the ball is still in the air

Right to Left

“Rainbow Turning”

• Pull both arms towards you when catching the ball.
• Stretch your “racket-free hand” forward while moving the racket and the foot of your “racket-free side” backward.
• In a “propeller motion” you now turn the “racket-free arm” over the upper half of your body to the other side, while the “racket arm” swings over the lower half of your body in the opposite direction up to body level.
• During the propeller motion, you pivot on the toes of your foot on your “racket-free side” and on the heel of the foot on your “racket side”.
• While the racket is moving downwards, move the “racket-free hand” upwards to chest level and pull the foot of your “racket-free side” parallel to the foot, slightly touching the ground with your toes.
• Now push your free hand completely forward and at the same time push your free foot completely backward.

Footwork

• Stretch during the rotation and enhance the elegance in the movement by expanding slowly
• Perform the rotation slowly as well – this way you keep full body control during the movement and at the same time emphasizing the graceful circular movement.

The Elements in One Sequence

So, let us have a look at this part’s elements in one sequence, at original speed:

Your putting your elements together to form a whole – you are almost there 🙂

Olga Ardasheva
BailongBall Instructor