The uneven bars or asymmetric bars is a artistic gymnastics apparatus. It is only used by female gymnasts. It is made of a metal or steel frame. The bars are made of wood or plastic or composite materials.

Dimensions

• Height (including about 20 cm for landing mats):
  • upper bar: 246 cm
  • lower bar: 166 cm
• Length of the bars: 240 cm
• Diagonal distance between the two bars: 130–180 cm (adjustable)

Scoring

As with other gymnastic events scoring is based on the Fédération Internationale de Gymnastique's Code of Points (these are not available online). And common to other artistic gymnastics events judges look at difficulty and form (which can be described, perhaps, as elegance and control). Judges will award points for holding the body straight at the handstand point of a swing, ease of movement between the bars and fluency of motion. Judges will penalise unplanned swings used to regain lost momentum, clipping the other bar with a stray foot and a whole half a point is lost if the competitor falls off the bars. As with events the dismount is important, the judges looking for a stuck landing: both feet hitting the mat at the same time, feet together, with no steps, hops or strides required to maintain balance.

There are also required movements such as a movement from the lower to the upper bar, a movement from the upper to the lower bar and a movement wherein the gymnast's centre of gravity moves towards the bar.

External links

• US Gym Net's glossary of uneven bars skills
• US Gym Net's glossary of dismounts