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Technique Tip: One-Shot S-Wrap Entry

A few weeks ago, I asked in an Instagram post, “If you could wave a magic wand and instantly nail one aerial skill, what would it be?”


I loved seeing the responses and one request came up again and again, the One-Shot S-Wrap entry, an Int/Adv skill.​ S-Wrap is a super useful wrap because it sets you up for an array of skills, including Windmills and Double Star Drops.


This entry can feel challenging because it asks for real strength and coordination, your upper body holding a bent-arm position, while your legs, core, and hip flexors do a lot of the work too.

A common issue is a loop of slack that sneaks in behind you. When the leg pathway is even slightly off, the slack shows up, and suddenly you’ve got an accidental slack drop in the mix.

With time spent building the strength and refining the pathway, this becomes a really quick and efficient way into S-Wrap, and it’s one of my go-to entries!

Below I’m sharing the 3 key ingredients you’ll want in place first, plus my favorite hammock-knot drill that's great for an array of levels and a clear step-by-step breakdown.

✔️3 Ingredients

  • A strong bent-arm hold (aim for a steady 10+ seconds)

  • A strong inversion

  • A strong scissor hip key (even though this entry doesn’t place you into a full hip key, the side crunch and leg lift mechanics are very similar)

    Think of this as a pathway + strength builder. The more consistent these pieces feel, the smoother the One-Shot becomes over time. And if frog-leg is where you’re at right now for the inversion, that’s a great step on the way to straight legs!

Key Steps

  • Start in an upright bent-arm position and fully commit to the hold.

  • If the silk starts on your right side, your left leg is the scoop leg.

  • Scoop the tail behind your left leg, then lift that leg up and out to the side to about hip height.

  • Bring your right leg forward in a scissor action to pass the tail across to the opposite hip.

  • Invert, hook the right knee, and pass the tail to the front to complete your S-Wrap for Windmills or leave it behind you and wrap your thigh followed by tummy for Double Star.


Highly Recommended Drill:

Practice the leg pathway using a hammock knot to groove the pathway and build the strength needed.

Common Mistakes

  • Arms “melt” mid-entry. If your bent arms straighten early, the wrap drops too low (around the legs/ bum instead of the waist). That usually makes the inversion harder and often creates extra slack. (If you having a solid straight arm inversion, fantastic, you can do this with straight arms, but they'll need to start that way, and not melt from bent to straight).

  • Scoop leg lifts too low The scoop leg needs to lift up, back, and out to the side to about hip height, so the fabric lands above your bum and across your lower back. If it catches on your thigh or anywhere lower, a loop of slack tends to sneak in behind you. Cue: side-crunch toward the silk like you would for a Hip Key, ribs closing toward the hip on the silk side. That action helps the scoop leg lift higher so the fabric lands above your bum and across your lower back.

  • Catching the fabric too low on the ankle or foot This usually turns into a “kick your way up” moment, and that’s when the slack drop shows up. The hammock knot drill helps you clean this up by training the correct placement and pathway.



✨For more S-Wrap entries, plus a whole library of skills that build from them, check out Aerial Physique TV. It’s your go-to on-demand aerial resource with tutorials, lesson plans, live class replays, and more. Claim your free trial here.

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