How to Do a Toss Cartwheel With a Baton

As showcase members of the marching band, baton-twirling majorettes should expect to perform a few audience-wowing tricks. One such trick is performing a toss cartwheel with a baton. This is an intermediate-level skill that packs a lot of punch, especially at competitions. First decide which way you intend to perform the toss cartwheel. There are two common methods: cartwheeling to the side and cartwheeling to the front.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Cartwheel to the Side

1. Hold the baton in your right (or dominant) hand.

2. Perform a wind-up activity to get the baton rotating before you toss it. A typical wind-up procedure includes twirling the baton in a clockwise circle over your head, then whipping it behind your back.

3. Toss the baton high into the air using a thumb flip; the baton should travel about 4 to 6 feet to the right.

4. Lean to the right and complete the cartwheel as soon as you toss the baton. Your body should stay in the same lateral line as when you started the trick.

5. Catch the baton. Most majorettes strike a finishing pose, such as a high "V" with their arms and baton, to complete the trick.

Cartwheel to the Front

6. Hold the baton in your right (or dominant) hand.

7. Perform a wind-up activity to rotate the baton before you toss it. Toss the baton high into the air; the baton should travel about 3 to 5 feet in front of you.

8. Turn your body so that your leading cartwheel arm faces the front as soon as you toss the baton. Complete the cartwheel.

9. Catch the baton and strike a finishing pose to complete the trick.

Tips & Warnings

• Practice makes perfect. Many majorettes trying to learn a toss cartwheel find themselves more worried about the cartwheel than the toss. In actuality, the toss is the most important component of the trick. Without a good toss, the trick is impossible to master.
• If you want to try out to be a majorette in college, you must master a toss cartwheel, as it is a required skill.

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