Figure Skating Jumps: Axel, Lutz, Flip, Loop, Salchow, Toe Loop

Figure Skating Jump Types: Telling Your Lutz from Your Loop

The six competition jumps in figure skating are distinguished by their takeoff mechanism — which edge the skater pushes from, whether a toe pick is used, and the direction of entry. Judges, the technical panel, and savvy fans watch the takeoff closely, because that’s where the jump type is defined.

The Six Jumps (Easiest to Hardest, Typically)

1. Toe Loop

Takeoff: backward, outside edge, with toe pick assist from the free foot.
Visual cue: the skater plants their right toe pick (for counter-clockwise jumpers) and launches from the left foot’s outside edge.
Base value (triple): 4.20 points.

2. Salchow

Takeoff: backward, inside edge, no toe pick.
Visual cue: the skater swings the free leg forward from a backward inside edge — the motion looks like a scooping turn.
Base value (triple): 4.30 points.

3. Loop

Takeoff: backward, outside edge, no toe pick.
Visual cue: the skater simply springs from the outside edge while both feet are crossed. No toe or free-leg assist.
Base value (triple): 4.90 points.

4. Flip

Takeoff: backward, inside edge, with toe pick assist.
Visual cue: similar to a Lutz, but the skater enters on an inside edge (curving to the left for counter-clockwise jumpers).
Base value (triple): 5.30 points.

5. Lutz

Takeoff: backward, outside edge, with toe pick assist.
Visual cue: a long backward glide on the outside edge (curving to the right for counter-clockwise jumpers), then toe pick and launch. The counter-rotational entry is what makes it hard.
Base value (triple): 5.90 points.

6. Axel

Takeoff: forward, outside edge, no toe pick.
Visual cue: the only jump entered going forward. This extra half-rotation makes it uniquely difficult — a triple Axel is actually 3.5 rotations.
Base value (triple Axel): 8.00 points.

The Quad Revolution

Quad (four-rotation) versions of all six jumps are now attempted in men’s competition, and increasingly in women’s:

Quad Toe Loop (4T): 9.50 points. The first quad consistently landed in competition.
Quad Salchow (4S): 9.70 points.
Quad Loop (4Lo): 10.50 points. First landed by Yuzuru Hanyu in 2016.
Quad Flip (4F): 11.00 points.
Quad Lutz (4Lz): 11.50 points. Among the hardest due to counter-rotational entry.
Quad Axel (4A): 12.50 points. First landed by Ilia Malinin in 2022 — 4.5 rotations.

Edge Calls

The Lutz and flip are mirror images in terms of takeoff edge (Lutz = outside, flip = inside). Judges and the technical panel scrutinize these edges closely:

Flutz: a Lutz taken off the wrong (inside) edge — called as an edge error (“e” mark), reducing the GOE.
Lip: a flip taken off the wrong (outside) edge — same penalty.
Unclear edge ("!"): when the edge is ambiguous, a warning mark is given with a lesser GOE reduction.

Edge calls can change the entire scoring of a program. An incorrectly edged Lutz is essentially a flip, and the base value and GOE are adjusted accordingly.

Combinations and Sequences

A combination links two or three jumps with no steps or turns between them. The second (and third) jump must be a toe loop or loop, since these are the only jumps that take off from a landing edge without a setup.

A sequence links two jumps with a step, turn, or Euler (half-loop) in between. Sequences receive a base value reduction compared to combinations.

Under-Rotation and Downgrades

The technical panel reviews every jump on video:

q (quarter): less than 1/4 rotation short. GOE reduction only.
< (under-rotated): 1/4 to 1/2 rotation short. Base value reduced ~20%.
« (downgraded): more than 1/2 rotation short. Jump scored as one rotation lower (quad becomes triple).