How to Twirl a Hoop Baton

Take baton lessons to learn the beginning twirls and to learn all basic handling techniques. Twirling a baton with a hoop is an intermediate to advanced level twirling, so you have to have the basics to start with.

Learn to do the front hand spin, which is where you grab the middle of the baton with your right hand and your thumb towards the large end of the baton. Turn your palm up holding the baton between your thumb and index fingers. Turn your left hand palm up and use the left hand by the little finger to push the baton over and down. As it goes around and down, grab the baton with your left hand, bring it around in front of you to complete the spin or circle and end with both hands side by side on the baton, which is horizontally in front of you. You have completed a front hand spin. Do it repeatedly to pick up speed so that you cannot tell when one spin ends and another begins. This is a basic for hoop baton as well.

Move on to learning the front hand toss where you start again with your right hand holding the baton with the thumb towards the large end or ball of the baton. Give your right hand a quick flip around while you let go of the baton while pushing it up in the air in a twirling movement. Watch the baton so you will be able to catch the baton in the same position that you started the movement. Practice doing this repeatedly to build speed. Add a turn around into your toss, where you toss the baton and give it enough lift so that you are able to turn completely around and then catch the baton. These tosses look great with a hoop baton decorated with fringe or streamers.

Roll the baton through your fingers the same way you would twirl a pencil through your fingers. This is a finger twirl. Do this in both right and left hands. Start with the thumb aimed at the ball of the baton. Turn the ball in towards your body as you flex your wrist downward. Let the baton twirl through your fingers horizontally and then roll over the back of your hand to catch back in the beginning position. Twist the baton ball under and then up over your head and repeat the finger twirl upwards. Go up and down, back and forth, learning to pick up speed as you go. This is a great movement with a hoop baton.

Twirl a hoop baton somewhat the same as you would twirl a standard baton. You will still be able to do front hand spins, tosses, turn around catches, finger twirls and several other basic twirling sequences. You won't be able to do stunts or maneuvers such as elbow rolls, due to the hoop being around the outside of the ends of the baton.

Practice twirling your hoop baton to get the feel of it. It does not have exactly the same balance that a regular baton has, so even if you are a top-notch baton twirler, you may have practice to do with a hoop baton.

Decorate your hoop baton to add glitz and dazzle to your twirling performance. Purchase decorative garlands, streamers and other such coverings to cover the hoop around the outside of the baton. Some of the coverings can be hand-made to reduce the costs. This really adds a lot of flash to your twirling performance.