How to Spin a Rifle: Spinning and Tossing a Rifle

Prepared for Winterguard International

Prepared by Matthew Barker

TECM 2700 11-12

April 18th, 2014

Table of Contents

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Table  of  Contents  Table of Contents ........................................................................................................................... iii  Introduction ..................................................................................................................................... v  Chapter One ................................................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.  

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Chapter Two .................................................................................................................................... 7  Index ............................................................................................................................................... 9  

Introduction

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Introduction  

This manual is for colorguard technique. In this instruction manual, you will learn the basics on how to do certain techniques on rifle. The first chapter will cover basics, such as spinning: drop spins, one-handed double time, and two-handed double time. Each will be separated into different sections so one can go at any pace they choose. In the second chapter the topic of tossing will be covered: singles, doubles, triples, quads, fives, and sixes. In this introduction we will cover basic rifle terminology.

• The nose, which is also known as the tip, is the vital part of the rifle. • The bolt, which is on top, can be used to spin on, also know as the barrel. • The neck, which is where you begin to spin, is also a vital point of the rifle. • The butt is known for the support of the rifle and where you place your hand to

toss. • The strap is on the bottom of the rifle it is mainly used for choreography. • The belly is also located at the bottom of the rifle.

Warning: A Color guard rifle is a piece of equipment that is solid wood. Be careful when tossing and spinning your rifle. If you miss-spin or miss-toss you may end up hitting yourself, another person or an object. When spinning and especially tossing always make sure you are in an open area away from windows, small children and animals. And gloves are not a necessity to have while spinning and tossing a rifle, but they may protect your hands from the rifle itself.

Rifle Diagram

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Fly Chapter 1

 

Chapter  1    

Drop  Spins,  One  Handed  Double  Time

Chapter One

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Chapter  1:  How  to  Spin  a  Rifle  

Right  Hand  Drop  Spins: 1. Hold the rifle with the small end, or nose, pointed toward the left. Your left hand should

be on the nose, with the palm facing down. Your right hand should be on the neck with your palm facing up.

2. Push the nose down with your left hand as you twist your right wrist, spinning the rifle around in your hand but releasing your grip.

3. Tighten your grip with your right hand after the rifle spins, so that your hands are in the same place they were at the beginning of the spin.

4. While it is rolling around your wrist keep your hand in a cup position. 5. When you are rotating the rifle in your hand you make your palm go from horizontal to

vertical then back to horizontal. 6. Spin until you get an understanding of how the right-handed drop spins work. 7. Spin a few more times, and then try a drop-stop (explained in step 7) on your last one. 8. Switch hands while the rifle is airborne and catch the nose in your left hand, while

placing your right on the top of the butt end.  

 Left  Hand  Drop  Spins:  1. Hold the rifle with your left hand palm up about 10 inches from the end of the nose (the

belly) and your right hand on top of the rifle neck. 2. Push down with your right hand as you twist with your left, releasing your grip as the gun

spins in your hands. 3. Tighten your grip with your left hand after the rifle spins, so that your hands are in the

same place they were at the beginning of the spin. 4. Remember to keep your hand in the same cup shape just as in right hand drop spins. 5. Spin until you get an understanding of how the left-handed drop spins works. 6. Spin one last time then try a drop-stop. 7. Switch the position of your hands while the rifle is airborne so that your left hand is palm

down on the nose and your right hand is palm up on the neck.

 

Drop  spin  tips:  • Don't wear loose clothing; your rifle will get caught up into your clothes. • If you have long hair, try putting it up in a hairstyle so it's out of your face. That way you

don't have to worry about wind blowing it around. • When you do drop spins, try to keep your elbows still or very little movement.

How to Spin and Toss a Rifle

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Right  Handed  One  Handed  Double  Time:  

1. Hold the rifle with the small end, or nose, pointed toward the left. Your left hand should be on the nose, with the palm facing down. Your right hand should be on the neck with your palm facing up.

2. Push the nose down with your left hand as you twist your right wrist, spinning the rifle around in your hand but releasing your grip.

3. Now instead of catching it in the neck like drop spins you release it a little faster and catch it on the bolt.

4. Once you have the bolt you release it again to catch it in the neck 5. Also know as bottom-top-bottom-top-bottom, this refers to where you hand placement

will be on the rifle which is either on the top or the bottom. 6. Spin until you get an understanding of right handed one handed double time. 7. Spin a few more times, then do a drop stop. 8. Switch hands while the rifle is airborne and catch the nose in your left hand, while

placing your right on the top of the butt end.

 

Left  Handed  One  Handed  Double  Time:  1. Hold the rifle with your left hand palm up about 10 inches from the end of the nose and

your right hand on top of the rifle neck. 2. Push down with your right hand as you twist with your left, releasing your grip as the gun

spins in your hands. 3. Instead of catching it in the belly like drop spins you release it a little faster and catch it

on the bolt. 4. Once you have the bolt you release it again to catch it on the belly of the rifle. 5. Remember bottom-top-bottom-top-bottom. 6. Spin until you get an understanding of left handed one-handed double time. 7. Spin one more time, then do a drop stop. 8. Switch the position of your hands while the rifle is airborne so that your left hand is palm

down on the nose and your right hand is palm up on the neck.

 

One  Handed  Double  Time  Tips:  • When you spin, try to spin at your belly button, unless you are told to spin somewhere

else. Generally, you should not spin at your chest. • Don't be pessimistic! Always reach for the stars! Do your best and don't be discouraged if

you can't get it the first time. With practice, you'll get it.

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Fly Chapter Two

Chapter  2    

Tossing  Singles,  Doubles

Chapter Two

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Chapter  Two:  How  to  Toss  a  Rifle  

Tossing  a  Single:  1. Stand in a stable position. I like second position “boxed out” for practice. Feet are apart,

shoulder width. 2. Start with the rifle at left flat. The left arm is bent, elbow free of but in line with the

ribcage, with the left pinkie barely to the left of the bolt. Let the thumb ride along the very bottom edge of the bolt but it is tucked down, not extended.

3. Keep the gun in your fingers, not in the palm of your hand. This reduces twisting on the release. The right elbow is 6-8 inches out, in line with the body, forearm straight. The right hand rests lightly at the very end of the gun with no fingers overlapping. Keep elbows higher than wrists.

4. Stand with shoulders back, stomach in; feet shoulder width and legs turned out. Relax from head to toe; nothing twisted or tilted.

5. Have enough tension in your shoulders, back and arms to keep someone from taking your rifle away.

6. With singles you don’t have to dip, so push down with your right hand and release it with your left hand.

7. Single is single revolution, the tip will go up then down then you catch it. 8. When you catch you will catch it with the right hand in the neck and left hand on the tip.

 Tossing  a  Double:  

1. Stand in a stable position. I like second position “boxed out” for practice. Feet are apart, shoulder width.

2. Start with the rifle at left flat. The left arm is bent, elbow free of but in line with the ribcage, with the left pinkie barely to the left of the bolt. Let the thumb ride along the very bottom edge of the bolt but it is tucked down, not extended.

3. Keep the gun in your fingers, not the palm of your hand, it make it easier for the release. 4. Stand with shoulders back, stomach in; feet shoulder width and legs turned out. 5. Raise the right hand to shoulder height. Separate your shoulders. Don’t grip the bottom

hand too tightly. 6. Don’t dig your elbow into your ribs. That can ruin arm path, slow down rotations, and, if

you do it on the catch, it’s bad catch because your body will contort around the rifle. 7. When you are set, look down at the rifle and make sure that your hands are in a straight

line, and that the rifle is not rotated towards or away from you. Usually the culprit is too much tension in your fingers.

8. Any line on the floor can be used to check your position. This helps improve pitch. The release raises the gun to the level where you’re going to let go of it.

9. Squeeze the left hand as the rifle is pushed down and transfer the energy from the swinging of the butt to the barrel.

10. As you lift straight up, turn the left wrist like you are twisting a doorknob and lift straight up in line with your shoulder.

How to Spin and Toss a Rifle

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11. Release straight up from your shoulder, the release point is at shoulder height. 12. If your rifle is flying to the left, right or forward, it’s because that is where you opened

your hand. This point of release can be altered for your direction of travel. 13. The catch for a basic toss is at right flat, hands at the grip and tip, wrists below elbows.

Wait at your free hand position until the very last moment to catch the rifle. When you catch, act like you are pulling the rifle apart and box out. This helps control the line of the catch, and it strong.

Tossing  a  Triple:  1. Stand in a stable position. I like second position “boxed out” for practice. Feet are apart,

shoulder width. 2. Start with the rifle at left flat. The left arm is bent, elbow free of but in line with the

ribcage, with the left pinkie barely to the left of the bolt. Let the thumb ride along the very bottom edge of the bolt but it is tucked down, not extended.

3. Raise the right hand to shoulder height. Separate your shoulders. Don’t grip the bottom hand too tightly.

4. Release straight up from your shoulder, the release point is at chin height. 5. The catch for a basic toss is at right flat, hands at the grip and tip, wrists below elbows.

Wait at your free hand position until the very last moment to catch the rifle. When you catch, act like you are pulling the rifle apart and box out. This helps control the line of the catch, and it strong.

 Tips  on  Tossing  a  Rifle:  

• In between release and catch, have a free hand position. • To work on the push and lift separately, do “fakes”: push and lift to that release point but

don’t toss. • Whenever you catch a toss on a rifle, make a solid catch. Attack the toss!

• If you have a pitch when you toss, a pitch being a slant at a 45 degree back, try tossing against a wall (be very carful, its possible to injure yourself by doing this). By tossing against a wall you can tell if you have that pitch because it will hit the wall causing your rifle to go out of control.

• To correct a pitch try keeping the palm of your hand pressed forward against the rifle. Don't bring the palm back on the prep because it will cause that a pitch.

Index

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Index  

Belly, v, 9, 10

Bolt, v, 10, 7, 8

Butt, v, 9, 10, 7

Neck, v, 9, 10, 7

Release, 8

Rifle, v, 9, 10, 7, 8