Artistic Gymnastics Apparatus

You cannot perform artistic gymnastics without apparatus. Apparatus are the balance beam, horizontal bars, parallel bars, pommel horse, rings and vault. You may include the mats utilized for floor routines and placed everywhere a fall might occur. Each type of apparatus has a specific use and several are gender-specific.

Male gymnasts use the horizontal bar, the parallel bars, the pommel horse, the vault and the rings. Female gymnasts utilize the uneven bars, the vault and the balance beam. Each gender has one apparatus they believe presents the most difficulties. For the women, the greatest struggle lies with the balance beam.

According to legend, the balance beam originated in Uzbekistan. A balance beam is 16’ and 3” long, 4” wide and around 4’ off the ground. It is made of laminated wood covered with chamois. You can adjust the height for training and for younger children. Beneath the beam lies a mat. The routine on a balance beam last between 70 and 90 seconds.

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Frederick Jahns invented parallel bars in 1812.The parallel bars stand some 67” off the floor. They are 11.5’ long and range from 17 to 19” apart. The bars can be raised or lowered for younger and beginner gymnasts. Parallel bars are made from wood, originally, but now consist of fiberglass with a wood coating. They have some flexibility. A routine lasts between 25 and 30 seconds.

The horizontal bar is 94.5” in length. It stands about 100 inches above the ground. The actual bar is constructed of spring steel. It is one inch thick. There are always mats below to protect the gymnast if he falls. A routine n this high bar lasts between 25 to 30 seconds.

The uneven bars are a direct relative of the parallel bars. The uneven are 94.5 inches long. The higher bar stands at 7.5’ above the ground; the lower one is around 5’ off the ground. The two bars are five to six feet apart. You can adjust the bars in terms of height from the ground and each other and distance from each other. Uneven bars are made from fiberglass with a wood covering. A routine lasts 30 seconds.

The rings, originating in the 1800s as bars then triangles, are 7” in diameter. They are made from wood or fiberglass and hang 100” above the mats. Short leather or nylon straps attach the rings to steel cables stretching to the ceiling or to a metal frame.

The vault or “horse” is composed of water absorbent leather or suede. It is padded and stands 47” tall, for women, and a little higher for men. The entryway or runway to the vault is 82’. This piece of equipment is directly related to the final apparatus, the pommel horse. This is a vault with two adjustable handles. The handles, made of wood, are 4” high and u-shaped. Its origins go back to the days of bull-leaping.