BailongBall Forms – an Example, Part 3

In this series of blogs, we introduce you to BailongBall Forms. After having launched respective series on the disciplines of Multiplay and Freestyle, this series covering the discipline Forms, aims to complete your picture of our sport. The series breaks down a particular BailongBall Form into several parts. In each part, we show you round about two elements. At the end of the last part, you will have covered the Form and you will pick up tips and tricks while progressing from one part to the next.

In the first part of this series, we explain what sets Forms apart from the other BailongBall disciplines. We introduce the preparatory element of a particular form, followed by a second element, called “The Mirror”. In part two we cover elements three and four – the “horizontal turn” and the “Cloud Hands”. In this part we will introduce you to the two follow-up elements of this form, just to end with a sneak preview of part four. As with the first two parts, this part will also introduce two new elements. And again, we pick up exactly where we left of the time before.

Following the “Cloud Hands” is a changing of direction. This move ties into the coming element, the “Dynamic 8”. Most of all, however, you turn towards the open space of your room, after having reached one end of it. The move consists of:

• the inception of a diagonal to the right side of your body
• the inception of “propelling arms”, with your right arm stopping behind your body and your left arm in front of the body

And this is how the change of direction looks:

Change of direction

Overall View

Footwork:

Some tips:

• Shift your weight on your right leg, when lowering the racket to the inception of the Diagonal
• You gain the momentum for turning 180° when lowering the racket
• To gain the momentum, it is important to initiate the movement with your pelvis (not your arm) – this helps you maintain balance
• To turn, you pivot on your forefoot
• As soon as you have set down your entire left foot, the inception of the “propelling arms” follows

“Dynamic 8”

The “8” stands for the shape you “draw” with the racket:

• Imagine the number as a big 8 in front of your body – now tilt it to the side
• Next you “draw” along this lying 8 with racket and ball
• Move forward while drawing

The sequence:

• Draw the 8 twice while moving in one direction
• Change the direction as described above in element 1
• Now draw the 8 twice while moving in the opposite direction
• The end of the second 8 is followed by the next element (more about this in the next part of this series)

The forward movement:

• Your feet follow racket and ball
• When the racket swings to the left, the left foot goes diagonally forward and sets down
• The right foot follows immediately and levels with the left foot when the racquet reaches its highest point on the left
• The left heel does not touch down
• The counter-movement of your pelvis allows the right foot to advance and the sequence starts all over, only this time to the right

So much for the description – here is the video:

Overall View

Footwork:

Some tips:

• “Your drawing of the first 8” starts on your lower right
• By turning your pelvis to the left you initiate a diagonal upward movement to your left
• At the end of the upward movement you catch the swing from your pelvis with a counter movement of the pelvis in the opposite direction
• The initiation of the counter movement pulls the racket in a circular motion from your upper left to your lower left
• When your hip is back to the starting position, the diagonal upward movement to your upper right is completed
• Once more you catch the momentum of your pelvis with a counter movement
• Again, the initiation of the counter movement draws racket and ball – this time from the upper right, to the lower right
• The next 8 begins…

Both elements in one sequence

Both elements are executed twice. Therefore, this video shows the entire sequence front to back:

With these first 6 elements we have reached half time so to speak. The remaining elements to be shown in the coming parts of the series, mostly have less repetitions and are typically shorter.

You want to know what exactly this means? Here is a short preview of the next part:

Your elements are “forming up” – keep with it 🙂

Olga Ardasheva
BailongBall Instructor