BailongBall Forms – an Example, Part 4

In this series of blogs, we introduce you to BailongBall Forms. After having launched respective series on the disciplines of Multiplay and Freestyle, this series covering the discipline Forms, aims to complete your picture of our sport. The series breaks down a particular BailongBall Form into several parts. In each part, we show you round about two elements. At the end of the last part, you will have covered the Form and you will pick up tips and tricks while progressing from one part to the next.

In the first part of this series, we explain what sets Forms apart from the other BailongBall disciplines. We introduce the preparatory element of a particular form, followed by a second element, called “The Mirror”. In part two we cover elements three and four – the “Horizontal Turn” 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.

Ending with last part’s “Dynamic 8”, we now follow up with “Mirror & Release Ball”. This element is executed 3 times in one direction, then we change direction and execute it 3 times in the other direction. This part’s second element is a very elegant change of direction, the “Rainbow Turn”. The components in a short:

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

And here are the details:

“Mirror & Release Ball”

Left to Right

Footwork

A few tips for Mirror & Release Ball:

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

A few tips for changing direction:

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

Mirror from Right to Left

“Rainbow Turn”

The Rainbow Turn move is actually just a 180° turn, but a very emphasized one for that. In this element, the full extension of the arms to both sides and the formation of a large circle with the arms provide an elegant effect. At the same time, you stretch your “racket-free” hand forward – twice (when initiating the turn and upon completing it). In detail, the element is composed of the following:

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

Some tips:
- 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:

In the next of the final two parts of our series we will present a combination of movements with a change of direction. You can even use one element of the combination in multiplay. Here is a brief look behind the curtain:

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

Olga Ardasheva
BailongBall Instructor