How to Hardflip in 4 Simple Steps

Brian BlakelyJuly 7, 2024 5 min read

They don't call it a hardflip for nothing! This impressive move is arguably one of the most popular flip tricks in skateboarding and will earn you some proper respect in any game of S.K.A.T.E. you might play. Pro skater Dominick Walker is here to give you some step by step instructions on how to conquer this trick, making it seem surprisingly easier to learn than you might think.

The Perfect Hardflip in 4 Steps

Foot Positioning
Pop and Flick
Catch
Land

Step-By-Step Guide to a Hardflip

When you're first taking a crack at learning hardflips, keep in mind that it helps having a few other fundamental tricks on lock—the ollie, front-shuv and kickflip. In a way, you could argue that the combination of these three tricks basically makes up the hardflip. In reality, it's still a beast of its own, but as Dominick mentions, “It can be a little tricky, but with the right foot placement, you’ll be in the right place.” Which brings us to Step 1—foot placement.

Step 1: Foot Placement

Despite the trick you're trying to learn, proper foot placement will always be the most important factor. And while every skateboarder does every trick a little differently than others, the foundation of certain tricks are pretty universal. For the hardflip, you want your front foot below the top bolts, angled slightly, and basically in the center of your board. Your back foot should be placed firmly on the tail, scooting slightly into the nook of the concave. Basically–you want your feet to be slightly angled towards the heelside of your board. Peep the photo below for reference!

Step 2: Pop and Flick

Popping and flicking your board comes next, but this is already where things start to get tricky. Remember how we said it'd be smart to have kickflips and front-shuvs on lock? This is why. Once you pop, you want to slide your front foot diagonally almost like you're doing a kickflip, but not quite. You're basically kicking behind you, which will make it spin 180 degrees while flipping. It's important that you flick your front foot with enough force to make the board flip, though. As Dominick mentions, “It’s very important that you hug this side [heelside] of your board, as it makes your board flip better.” Think of the rhtyhm of your pop and flick as a sideways-down motion, if that makes sense.

Step 3: Catch

Once you start to feel comfortable with your foot placement, popping your board and mastering your flick, you want to start thinking about how to catch the board once it fully rotates. Try your best to keep your eyes on the board and prepare to catch it with your front foot. That said, there are a few ways to do this. As you see in the video, Dominick breaks down a few ways to catch hardflips based on how you flick it. For example, Bryan Herman flicks his to the side, which makes it easy to catch. While Chad Muska, for example, flicks off the top, which makes the board flip a bit more up and down. (Gotta love those classic Muska hardflips either way!)

Step 4: Landing

If you find yourself breezing through these steps, well, you might just be one of the lucky ones! If not—don't even trip. Depending on the way you flick—whether out to the side or off the top—you'll have to adjust how you catch and land the trick. The only way to figure out which style works for you is by rifling a few off and seeing what feels good! Rest assured, you’ll find the best way for you. Either way, you always want to aim to have both feet land on the bolts if and when you can. It's not only convenient and stylish, but it will position you to land centered on your board all the same, so you can roll away clean and be ready for what's next. And without trying to sound too much like every classic "Trick Tip" video over the decades, all that's left to do is land strong and ride away clean. Bolts, baby!

Practice, Practice, Practice!

Like every single skateboard trick, learning how to hardflip is going to take some time. It requires consistent practice and plenty of persistence, but if you're a skateboarder, well, I know you can handle that! We're all a little overly persistent to a degree, right? Start by trying the trick on a flat surface before moving on to hips or banks (or gaps and stairs). Although, sometimes practicing them off of a curb can be helpful. That little bit of height can help the board flip and spin a little easier. But as always, just do what works best for you. Trust me, you'll know. Just have fun with it.

And just for the sake of saying it—I'm personally more than happy to admit that hardflips have always given me trouble, but every time I land one I get that same feeling of accomplishment and I hope you can experience that feeling sooner than later. What are you waiting for!? Get out there and get it handled.