Twisting

In a non-twisting dive, the diver must control the somersault rotation in order to enter the water at the correct angle. In a twisting dive both the somersault and twist must be controlled to give the correct amounts of rotation at entry. In addition, the angle of tilt away from the vertical somersault plane should be zero at entry into the water. As a consequence, the diver has a much more complex control task during the aerial phase of a somersaulting movement when twist is present. This chapter describes the ways in which twist can be initiated, controlled and stopped.