Balance Beam
Professional Balance Beams for Schools and Clubs
Balance Beam Buying Guide: Find the Perfect Beam for Your Gym
Jumps, turns and acrobatic elements: working on the balance beam is one of the most demanding disciplines in women’s artistic gymnastics. The gymnastic and acrobatic moves on the just 10 cm wide surface require excellent balance, core strength, flexibility, courage, spatial awareness and concentration. Simpler balance and basic exercises are ideal for PE lessons. In children’s gymnastics, the balance beam also offers many playful ways to train balance. To choose the right balance beam for your facility, keep the following criteria in mind:
- Who uses the balance beam?
- Why don’t men compete on the balance beam?
- What material is used for balance beams?
- What are the dimensions of a balance beam?
1. Who uses the balance beam?
The key question first: Where is the balance beam used?
- Children’s gymnastics
- School sports / PE
- Club training
- Performance-oriented artistic gymnastics
For first balancing experiences and in children’s gymnastics, training beams close to the floor are ideal, as they reduce fear of heights. In school sports, the focus is often on balance training, basic movement patterns and methodical exercises. In clubs, technique training, competition preparation and systematic skill progression are added. For performance-oriented training, a full competition or training balance beam is the best choice.
| Area of use | Typical requirements | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|
| School | Robust construction, good safety, versatile use | Training balance beam or low training beam for a safe, methodical introduction |
| Club | Precise height adjustment, good feel, suitable for frequent use | Height-adjustable training balance beam for different ability levels and intensive use |
| Junior training | Step-by-step progression, safe height, suitable matting | Training beam for beginners, later a height-adjustable training beam for systematic development |
| Competition-oriented training | Competition-like dimensions, high stability, consistent equipment quality | Competition balance beam or competition-style training beam with standardised dimensions |
2. Why don’t men compete on the balance beam?
The balance beam is traditionally part of women’s artistic gymnastics at the Olympic Games. In men’s gymnastics, other apparatus are firmly defined in the competition programme. This is due to the historical development of the sport and the apparatus regulations, not because men could not in principle train on the beam.
3. What material is used for balance beams?
Older balance beams as well as more affordable training and practice beams are made of softwood and covered with a non-slip fleece. Modern balance beams, especially competition beams, have a body made from a lightweight metal profile. The aluminium body is well padded and wrapped in special synthetic leather or heavy-duty fleece.Good to know: For children’s gymnastics and beginner training, foam practice beams are very popular. They are simply placed on the floor or on a standard gymnastics bench and secured with hook-and-loop straps. This creates a low, softly padded balance beam that helps prevent injuries. Thanks to the soft and low design, it is perfect for first experiences in basic artistic gymnastics courses.
4. What are the dimensions of a balance beam?
Alongside the length, beam width, apparatus height and footprint are key. The closer a beam is to competition standard, the more important precise dimensions and a consistent feel become. Balance beams that meet competition criteria are certified by the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG). Standard competition beams measure 5 m in length, 1.2 m in height and 10 cm in width.++ Width of the working surface: The standard width of the working surface on a balance beam is 10 cm. For training purposes, you can increase the width to 20 cm using a beam width extension.
++ Beam height: Most balance beams offer height adjustment between 50 cm and 130 cm, usually in 5 cm increments. In competition, the beam height is 1.2 m above the floor.
Training at this height is particularly challenging for children and beginners. Even experienced gymnasts find practising new elements at 1 m height demanding. Low training beams are a great alternative. Their low height of 20–30 cm boosts confidence, allowing gymnasts to focus fully on clean execution of their routines.
On this page in the Sport-Thieme online shop you’ll find FIG-certified balance beams for competition-focused artistic gymnastics, beams for school sports and practice beams for children’s gymnastics in clubs. Any questions? Simply contact us.