FFFFFF: Basic Stalls (Inside, Outside, Toe, Clipper) Tips & Video

Editor’s Note: This blog is the third in a series of the blog version of the Freedom Footbags’ Freestyle Footbag Fundamentals Flyer (FFFFFF). For a complete overview of the FFFFF with comprehensive links, we recommend you begin with part one.

The Basic Stalls of Freestyle Footbag

Here are a few overall general tips for stalls.

• If you find yourself struggling with stalls, master your basic kicks section first!
• Use your entire body to cushion the footbag (not just the catching foot). Most of this cushioning motion is achieved by bending your support leg just as the footbag is about to make contact with the foot. This motion is particularly key when performing the Clipper Stall
• For additional comprehensive tips, check out our Getting Started section.
• [EDIT, Added Dec 2nd] Another critical key to doing successive tricks and improving your overall consistency is to learn the “magic hop“.

“The Inside Stall”

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Just like with the inside kick, make a light “fist” with your foot: Your toes should be pushing down into the sole of your shoe when you make contact with the bag.

The FFFFFF video version of Inside Stall is not yet available.

“The Outside Stall”

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Outside stall tips:

• Push your toes up into the top of your shoe when you make contact with the bag.
• Turn your shoulders towards the bag. It’s easier to turn your upper body to meet the bag than to twist only your leg into position.
• Your upper leg should be at about 45 degrees to the ground with the knee pointing down when you make contact with the footbag.
• Ideally the outside surface of your foot is completely level to the ground when you stall the footbag. Jim has mastered many, many, many moves, but has not really focused on outside stalls.

Video version: (Note: If you cannot view the video below, check it out on YouTube, or download the medium resolution version.)

“The Toe Stall”

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The toe stall is integral to huge variety freestyle footbag moves. In addition to the other tips presented herein, keep in mind the following:

• When you first make contact with the footbag, the top part of your leg should be at about a 45 degree angle to the ground.
• Imagine the the footbag is an egg. When you first make contact with the “egg” you want to have your foot moving at the same speed as the “egg” and gradually reduce speed until you come to a complete stop. Thus you want the footbag to travel with your foot for about 3-6 inches before actually coming to the final stall postion.
• The lower part of your leg remains perpendicular (straight up and down) during the entire stalling motion. To accomplish this, it’s important to keep your lower leg very loose: It should basically “hang loose” off of the upper part of your leg.
• At the same time your lower leg is hanging loose, you sill want to have your toes cranked up, lightly pushing up into the top of your shoe.
• Mastering the toe stall does take some time. It can be especially awkward for the beginner because there is a tendency to make the entire leg rigid. One of the subtle keys to freestyle is getting a feel for which muscles to relax: In general if you can relax more you will have to work less. This results in longer strings, fewer injuries, and more overall success.
• One final key to keep in mind is that you’ll want to have your foot come very close to the ground, but do not let it touch! Letting you foot hit into the ground at the end of the trick will tend to make your potentially successful stall bounce right off.

Video version: (Note: If you cannot view the video below, check it out on YouTube, or download the medium resolution version.)

“The Clipper Stall”

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Clipper Stall Tips: Just like the inside stall make a light fist with your foot, pushing your toes into the bottom of your shoe. Also, check out the other tips at the beginning of this blog. Remember: Turn those shoulders into the bag and bend that support leg!

Video version: (Note: If you cannot view the video below, check it out on YouTube, or download the medium resolution version.)

If you can do all of these fundamental tricks, Congratulations! You are well on your way to the more challenging moves. Continue to Part Four.

This entry was posted on Sunday, May 27th, 2007 at 9:24 pm and is filed under Beginner's Corner, Jim Penske. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.