When working uneven bar swinging skills, do you have gymnasts who are nervous about hitting the low bar? Do they pull in too early causing them to break from proper form and technique? The Porcupine Pad is a simple, yet incredibly effective training tool that will help an athlete begin to feel exactly how far away their feet are from the low bar. The Porcupine Bar Pad creatively uses soft, flexible bristles and wrap-around padding to offer feedback and assurance. The Porcupine Bar Pad is very useful in helping to build confidence early in skill development.
Innovated by Coach Brett Wargo, Team Coach from Ascend Gymnastics (winner of the 2022 JO National Program of the Year award). The Porcupine Bar Pad has two rows of soft bristles, similar to a broom, in two different lengths, 6-in and 3-in. Velcro the pad around any standard 1.5-in rail and adjust the bristles so they are pointing in the direction of the high bar.
Use the longest length bristles (6-in long), for athletes who are just starting out, or for athletes who are the appropriate height for that length. Once the athlete is more comfortable, or more advanced in their technique, spin the pad to the shorter length bristle (3-in long) for an additional challenge.
- Ideal for beginners to practice basic tap swings with confidence.
- Front and back giant technique will improve with the athlete maximizing stretch between the bars.
- At 20-in wide, the width of the pad is long enough for both of the athlete’s feet to touch the bristles as they swing through.
- Long bristles are 6-in long
- Short bristles are 3-in long
- Quickly attach or remove the pad from the bar with Velcro flap closure.
- Bristle lengths are 6-in and 3-in from the bar pad.
- Bar pad is 20-in long, vinyl covered
- Velcro closure
Will the Porcupine Pad fit on a Floor Bar, Jr Training Bar, Stall Bars or Parallel Bars?
The Velcro flap allows for a snug fit on a bar that is 1.5-in in diameter, including Tumbl Trak Jr Bars as well as most competitive Parallel Bars.
Is the Porcupine Pad useful for lower level bar skills?
Sure! Use the Porcupine Pad on a floor bar for instance, and have young athletes practice feeling the bristles with their toes in glide swings or handstand flat backs.
