Pinnacle Gymnastics Kansas City Blog

How to Make a Floor Bar for Gymnastics

Written by mochynka | Mar 23, 2016 9:00:14 PM

First, please remember that I make these bars for my personal use at home and at the gym under strict instruction.  They are called floor bars for a reason.  Keep them on the ground, never elevate.

Floor bars are one of my favorite teaching tools at all levels.  They aid in skill development and add a fun twist to some basic drills.  Check out some insider tips on lesson planning.  Some of my favorite uses are:

Basic uses:

  • Bear crawl forward
  • Bear crawl sideways
  • Cartwheel hop over
  • Horsie kick

Intermediate uses:

  • Tuck hold
  • Pike hold
  • Straddle hold
  • Cartwheel over

Advanced uses:

  • Handstand against wall
  • Press to Handstand
  • Pirouette
  • And much, much, more!

What you need:

  • 1 - 4 ft 4x4 post
  • 2 - 3ft 1 1/4 inch PVC pieces
  • 4 - 1 1/4 inch Galvanized clip hangers
  • PVC Glue
  • 8 - 1 1/4 inch Kreg pocket hole screws
  • 4 - 2 1/2 inch Kreg pocket hole screws
  • Tape measure
  • Drill
  • Miter saw (not pictured)
  • Optional - cute helper and Goldfish


Instructions:

  1. Using the miter saw, cut the 4x4 into 4 equal 12 inch pieces
  2. Place one piece of 4x4 under each end of the first PVC pipe.
  3. Put PVC glue on a galvanized clip, place in the middle of the 4x4 and secure with one 1 1/4 screw on each side.  Repeat on the other side.
  4. Use 2 1/2 inch screw to drill through the PVC pipe and into the wood just inside the galvanized clip area. Repeat on the other side.
  5. Repeat steps 2-4 to make a second bar.
  6. Have your tester try them out!