What is a 'flip' jump in figure skating and how is it executed?

The Flip is one of the six standard single jumps in figure skating. For a counter-clockwise (CCW) skater (most skaters):

- Approach: skater is gliding backward, often entering from a three-turn or other transition
- Takeoff edge: the left back inside edge — this is the defining feature
- Toe pick: the right toe pick plants into the ice behind, providing the launch
- Rotation: one full revolution (360°) in the air
- Landing: on the right back outside edge, free leg trailing behind in arabesque

Where the Flip sits in the jump progression:
- Easier than Lutz (which has a counter-rotation entry)
- Comes after Loop in most coaching progressions, before Single Axel
- A single Flip is required at the Preliminary Free Skate test, not Pre-Preliminary

Common confusion: Flip and Lutz look similar — both are toe-pick jumps with the toe pick on the right foot, both rotate the same direction, both land on the right back outside edge. The only mechanical difference is the takeoff edge: Flip uses back inside edge, Lutz uses back outside edge.

A common error: "Flutzing" — taking off a Lutz on the inside edge instead of the outside edge, which technically makes it a Flip. The reverse error (a Flip done on an outside edge) is called a "Lip" and is far less common.

The Salchow is NOT a toe-pick jump — it's an edge jump (like the Loop). Don't group them together.

Want to see whether your skater's Flip is on the correct back inside edge? SkateMarks captures the takeoff frame and shows you the edge angle so you can spot drift before it becomes a habit.