Spinning Question...

While observing someone spinning last night I saw something that made me question if I was turning incorrectly. So.....when doing a normal right turn..after prepping for the turn do you spin using both feet or do you use one as a base and use the one to help you continue doing the spins? Hope this makes sense!

Thanks,
~Danielle~

People do it many different ways, and there is no right or wrong way. Paddling around is what most people do if the leader leads many turns, but for 2 or so, bringing the feet together is fine.

Thanks guys; this question has been puzzling me for a while and has caused me to obsess about being able to do spins without paddling.

Do people who do three or four consecutive spins mix them up – e.g. 2 paddled turns followed by a free double?

I have always paddled round, until recently! I've always been told that to do multiple spins effectively, you should really do it on one foot. Also means locking the arm tight and spotting! But I've never been able to do it, until the other night when it magically happened! It was like a light went on! So although I've been taught and shown what to do, it's taken about two years to get it to click! So for now, do what's comfortable, but I think in the long run, one foot is a better technique.

It's interesting how people are told different things about spinning. I was taught never to paddle with one foot as it becomes impossible or clumsy when doing more than a double spin. I was taught to alternate feet and have found this to be most effective in maintaining balance. It works for me, but I think everyone has to find what works for them.

The better spinners around here seem to be able to get round at least 3-4x without paddling. For AndrewD: yes, a lot of them do mix it up during long multiple spins (3 with feet together, throw in a paddle, 2 more, etc.).

I'd like to decrease my paddles as well (I still usually have to after 2). I actually got the Edie spins DVD partly to help with this problem, and in the demo she paddles on every go-around!

I think if I could remember to use my arms for momentum in the middle of the spin (as opposed to just for starting off) I could stop paddling (a little arm motion is so much more effective than a toe-tap for generating momentum) but right now this isn't second nature to me, the paddle happens almost before I have time to think about it.

I am also struggling with my spins my goal is to do at least 4 without paddling, now I can do only two, but 3 is proving difficult, a buddy of mine, who has spend a bit more time practicing them can now do 3, some days he can do them just right some days he has problems, so success varies I guess until you get good at it. but practice with good technique is what has got him there

Weirdly, when I am practicing paddled spins I find my self doing the occasional free X2 by mistake – these spins feel great, really smooth and effortless. When I consciously think about what I just did and try again, it never works and I have to resort to more punchy techniques to succeed (in practice I can do a controlled free double maybe one time in four).

WRT spotting – it’s definitely easier to do with paddled turns. When you’re not paddling do you spot for every rotation or just the final turn?

Thanks again.

I prefer spinning the entire time on one foot, although I may tap if I need to maintain my balance. I always spot...the entire time as well. Otherwise, it's a dizzy-disaster waiting to happen.

Neither one is wrong or right, although spinning on one foot looks a lot cleaner and can give you more speed. Although I have seen better spinners master the 'paddling' and still execute smooth spins (i.e. Eddie Torres dancers).

noobster said:

I actually got the Edie spins DVD partly to help with this problem, and in the demo she paddles on every go-around!

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I took a lesson from another spinning big wig and was surprised to see that she does this as well. Her paddle is more of a stepping weight shift though, and she does it so subtly that you can't tell. I can free spin on my own 3-4 pretty consistently. But I had to delve into proper technique when I shared a certain crappy floor with her and my spinning was greatly compromised while she was still knocking out 4-5 like it was nothing. I had to figure out how she did it, and low and behold, she was stepping through the turns. She says she does that on doubles too.

AndrewD said:

When you’re not paddling do you spot for every rotation or just the final turn?

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Spot on every turn, unless your neck can do 540 degrees. The point is to maintain orientation by (a) keeping a visual reference and (b) avoiding sustained periods of your head rotating - so that the fluid in your ears does not gain momentum.

I had a lessonon spinning ( leading them) and she said you only get one chance to set up and push off .also she said she can spin up to 4/5 turns with out any real input from the leader then we have to take over in multiple spins. . she only spins on one foot .

I tap if i don' t have enough momentum
I don't tap if i do (either from myself or the guy)

Noobster- have you tried using your head to give you momentum during a spins
I have no idea how i'd use my arms more to give more momentum during a spin ??? how does that work? Do you not throw yourself off balance

Basically if I spot i can spin myself - and i've now figured out the overspotting which was giving me neckache! yay

Try a good hard, fast spot and see if that helps you get around and stops the paddling

irishgirl said:

I tap if i don' t have enough momentum
I don't tap if i do (either from myself or the guy)

Noobster- have you tried using your head to give you momentum during a spins
I have no idea how i'd use my arms more to give more momentum during a spin ??? how does that work? Do you not throw yourself off balance

Basically if I spot i can spin myself - and i've now figured out the overspotting which was giving me neckache! yay

Try a good hard, fast spot and see if that helps you get around and stops the paddling

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Hey irishgirl,

I've been through a number of different techniques since I wrote that post and I think I've decided I like paddling (well, changing weighted feet through the turn). As Brownskin818 noted, it's a good technique for rough floors, it's great for balance and nobody can really tell the difference anyway from watching.

(Although from rereading the post it looks like I might have been actually pushing with my free foot at that time - I don't remember specifically.)

But anyway I'm no longer specifically trying to keep my weight on the same foot throughout the turn. Sometimes it just works that way on a fast floor with a balanced spin; sometimes my axis shifts to the ball of my other foot (or between the feet) and back again for momentum or balance or whatever, and that is fine too.

Arms give a ton of momentum, you can use a tiny little bit of shoulder-punch or arm styling to power yourself through extra turns if momentum runs out. You are right though, the movement has to be pretty small and right in the plane of the turn, otherwise it does create balance issues. I never did end up implementing the Edie-punch very much but sometimes I'll just bring my wrist in towards my chest a bit, and that creates a little boost without causing balance problems.

Spotting does give a bit of momentum but I don't like to snap-spot for lots as it feels rough on my neck.

btw while spinning never think about it ...practice enough where it becomes a good habit...i had tons of probs becuase i always thought about my technique and it was for the worst...so no matter how much i try i kept tiliting over..

again theres no bad ways.....Francisco Vasquez does some crazy 5-6 spins on one foot type of deal but he's trained...others do paddles such as myself

I think it depends on when the rotation is led

On a 5678 I walk the first and spin the second

On 123 567 I walk both

On 1234 I walk the first ans spin the second

On 5678 12345678 I walk the first and spin the next 4

Discochick said:

I have always paddled round, until recently! I've always been told that to do multiple spins effectively, you should really do it on one foot. Also means locking the arm tight and spotting! But I've never been able to do it, until the other night when it magically happened! It was like a light went on! So although I've been taught and shown what to do, it's taken about two years to get it to click! So for now, do what's comfortable, but I think in the long run, one foot is a better technique.

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This is one of the best advices I've ever encountered. I believe if you practice enough the spins will come out like magic!!! It's happened to me on occassions.

(reviewing spinning, cause I figured it would be good to work on spins)...I was never taught to do multiple spins, just picked it up by looking at people and practicing. So I never even tried the paddling thing until I saw salsa people doing it around here. And it feels so uncomfortable to me - slows me down, knocks me off balance (even more). I just abandoned the whole thing and am focusing on keeping my knees relaxed and not drawing up the free leg too high (got made fun of for pretending to be a ballerina in the club ). But if it works for so many people, there must a be a good way to do it...

Discochick said:

Also means locking the arm tight

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One my teachers absolutely hates this technique (too much tension in the followers arm), but I think with certain leaders (forceful spinners) if you don't have it, you might get your arm ripped out of it's socket :?