Pre-flight characteristics of Hecht vaults

This study reports the techniques used by gymnasts to perform the Hecht vault and compares them with techniques used for the handspring somersault vault (Takei and Kim, 1990). Data were obtained on 27 elite gymnasts performing the Hecht vault at the 1993 Canadian National Championships using two-dimensional video analysis with the Direct Linear Transformation (DLT) technique. The maximum height reached by the mass centre during postflight was significantly correlated (p < 0.001) with the vertical velocity of the mass centre and the body angle at horse contact. The backwards rotation of the body was significantly correlated (p = 0.002) with the shoulder angle at horse contact. The competition score was significantly correlated (p = 0.031) with the body angle at horse contact and the maximum height of the mass centre during postflight. For the Hecht vault the gymnasts had longer, lower and faster preflights with slower rotation at horse contact compared with the handspring somersault vaults.