This Strongman Flip Will Work Wonders- If You Do It Right

Use tyre flips to build real functional fitness, says Jack Lovett, champion strongman and owner of Spartan Performance Gym.

Tyre flipping is a movement with huge benefits for many people, but it’s often misunderstood or done wrong. If you want to get all the rewards, you need to understand the move.

Firstly, it’s a full-body stimulator. There isn’t a single muscle this exercise won’t recruit and strengthen, including stabilising muscles, which is something traditional barbell and dumbbell movements can’t claim. I find it’s particularly beneficial for contact sport athletes as a bridge between the weights room and the playing field.

It helps develop force from the ground up, because all flips require an explosive lower-body drive that extends up into triple extension and through the hands.Tyre flipping can also be used to develop endurance, benefiting athletes and non-athletes alike.

Finally, tyre flipping helps develop a formidable level of mental toughness– it’s not something you can approach casually. Suitably weighted tyres require total commitment and complete application, and in my experience the best results always come from such effort.On the next page,I’ll explain how to get the most out of this fantastic exercise.

GO BIG OR GO HOME 

Rather than let my athletes start with tiny tyres and work up, I start my entry-level or beginner clients with 250-300kg, and work up to 300-350kg for experienced/ heavier clients. There are two key reasons for this. Firstly, the tyre needs to be heavy enough to elicit the required training effect, and secondly, depth is crucial.