Tire Flip Revisited

I was talking with a friend of mine today, a former quarterback and safety from Cornell University, and he brought up a classic moment from last year’s football camp. I brought the tire for the older age group to try, and Shane just had wrist and hand surgery two days before.  However, he is a warrior, and NEEDED to flip the tire.  He wedged his hand under, and the rest is history…

I posted the “Exercise Of The Week: Tire Flipping” link on Facebook so Shane could get his picture, and a good discussion about proper flipping came up.  Tires are catching on as a great training tool, and rightfully so.   However, many people that are too physically weak are trying to jump right in the deep end.  I’ve had 8th graders be strong enough to attempt the flips, and seniors in high school that are too weak.  There is no magic formula, but I’ll make some recommendations.  The athlete should have good relative body strength, performing pull ups, push ups, dips, etc.  Also, the athlete should have good form on squat and dead lift.  Now the tire flip is a different motion than both, but the athlete needs to understand basic form instructions (breathing, shin angles, etc).  Better yet, here is a video:

*Note, the one handed flip was a strength challenge, you must have a very strong forearm, wrist tendons, and much more before you get your hand under there!

- Joe Hashey, CSCS -
PS. For those football players in the NEW YORK, PA area, check out our football camp in its 3rd year!