Gymnastics products and supplies are the focus of this portion of our web guide.

The sport of gymnastics involves physical exercises that require balance, coordination, endurance, flexibility, and strength. Gymnastic movements also contribute to the development of the abdominal, arms, back, chest, and shoulder muscle groups.

The most common form of competitive gymnastics for women is artistic gymnastics, including the floor, vault, uneven bars, and balance beam. For men, the events include the floor, vault, rings, pommel horse, parallel and horizontal bars.

Gymnastics equipment includes balance beams, uneven bars, vaulting tables, parallel bars, floor mats, spring floors, home training bars, mushrooms, and pommel trainers.

A balance beam is a rectangular apparatus used in artistic gymnastics. The apparatus and its events are often referred to simply as "beams."

Also known as asymmetric bars, uneven bars are an artistic gymnastics apparatus made of a steel frame and fiberglass bars coated with wood or sometimes made of wood. The bars are placed at different heights and widths so the gymnast can transition from bar to bar.

In gymnastics, the vaulting table is a slightly inclined metal piece of equipment with a padded, springy cover. Gymnasts vault over the table, often referred to as the vault.

Parallel bars are floor apparatuses made of two wooden bars. In gymnastics, men compete on parallel bars, using movements that combine swings, fighting elements, strength, and balance.

Floor mats are used in several indoor sports to cushion landings and absorb impact. Similarly, spring floors provide more bounce and help prevent injuries.

In gymnastics, a mushroom is a domed piece of equipment for developing circles on a pommel horse, which is itself a gymnastics apparatus swinging and balancing feats that consist of a padded rectangular or cylindrical form with two pommels on top and supported in a horizontal position above the floor.

The availability of home training bars can improve a gymnast's skills at home, and they offer the flexibility of practicing anytime. Generally, they are easy to set up and don't take up a lot of space.

Gymnastics supplies include grips, chalk, water bottles, gymnastics attire, protective gear, and training aids.

Worn by female gymnasts on the uneven bars and male gymnasts on the high bar and still rings, grips are devices worn on the hands of artistic gymnasts. They enhance the gymnast's grip on the apparatus and reduce friction. Gym chalk is specialized to improve a gymnast's grip while performing on bars, vaults, floors, and beams.

Gymnastics attire may include leotards, unitards, shorts, and sports bras. Protective gear may include knee pads, ankle braces, and tiger paws (wrist supports).

Various training aids may include stretch bands, balance trainers, mini beams, inversion cuffs, open shoulder trainers, sticky toes, adjustable Kip trainers, handstand trainers, performance stall bars, and spotting blocks.

Balance trainers are wobbly surfaces that force the gymnast to engage the core and muscles from the foot, ankle, and leg to maintain balance. They are available in various forms.

A mini beam is a small, thin beam raised from the floor on a leg or stand at both ends. It is usually covered with a leather-like material.

Inversion cuffs enhance conditioning and strength training by using gravity and body weight. Athletes attach the cuffs to bars and perform exercises that target core and leg strength.

Open shoulder trainers are light, padded devices that fit around the gymnast's shoulders and neck. They help maintain the correct shoulder position during handstands or tumbling skills.

Sticky toes are designed to train gymnasts to keep their feet together. Two elastic bands with Velcro on each end stick together but safely pull apart, providing instant feedback.

Adjustable Kip trainers are designed to hang on the low bar of gymnastics uneven bars equipment. They allow for more repetition, which helps to develop shoulder and abdominal strength while developing the correct Kip technique.

Handstand trainers help gymnasts develop the strength, balance, and technique required to perform a handstand. There are several types, including handstand blocks, handstand wall bars, handstand rings, and alpha rockers.

Also known as Swedish bars, performance stall bars are versatile pieces of gymnastics equipment mounted to a wall. They are used to develop strength, conditioning, and flexibility through leg lifts, pull-ups, flexibility exercises, and core exercises.

Spotting blocks are foam-based blocks that can be used in various training applications.

These and other equipment, training aids, and supplies used in gymnastics and retailers specializing in gymnastics products are appropriate topics for this category.

Recommended Resources

Search for Gymnastics on Google or Bing