How to Do a Scooter Tailwhip: The Ultimate Guide for Beginners

Stunt scootering is an extreme sport that combines skill, balance, and creativity. Among all the tricks you can perform, the tailwhip is one of the most impressive. Learning how to do a scooter tailwhip is a rite of passage for riders looking to progress from beginner moves to advanced stunts. Whether you’re practising on flat ground, at the skatepark, or using a trampoline scooter, this guide covers every step, from preparation and setup to execution and landing. By the end, even beginners can land their first tailwhip and eventually progress to advanced variations like the double tailwhip.

What is a Tailwhip? Understanding the Trick

A tailwhip is a popular scooter trick where the rider spins the scooter’s deck—a flat platform you stand on—360 degrees around the handlebars while airborne. The rider “kicks” the tail of the deck to make it spin, timing it perfectly to land smoothly.

If you’re learning how to do a scooter tailwhip, the key is mastering balance, coordination, and commitment to the spin. Once the basics are nailed, riders can start combining tailwhips with other tricks such as bar spins, 180s, or even a double tailwhip—where the deck rotates twice in a single jump.

Choosing the Right Scooter Before Learning How to Do a Scooter Tailwhip

Before attempting your first tailwhip, having the right scooter is essential. The wrong scooter can make learning how to do a tailwhip on a scooter frustrating, unsafe, or even impossible. Here’s what to look for to ensure your scooter is perfect for landing your first tailwhip:

1. Sturdy Deck

The deck is the part of the scooter you stand on, and it takes the most impact during jumps and tricks. A strong, reinforced deck is essential when learning how to do a scooter tailwhip, as it allows you to spin the deck confidently without worrying about it bending or breaking. Aluminium decks are lightweight yet durable, making them ideal for aerial tricks and precise landings.

2. Durable Wheels

Wheels are your connection to the ground and play a huge role in control and balance. Smooth, high-quality wheels with precision bearings make practising how to do a tailwhip on a scooter much easier. Durable wheels roll smoothly on flat surfaces, allowing you to build momentum and control during the kick and flick motion essential to the trick.

3. Reliable Headset

The headset allows the handlebars to rotate independently from the deck. A reliable, well-built headset is key when learning how to do a scooter tailwhip, ensuring your spins are stable and your steering precise. This stability is especially important for beginners who are coordinating their feet and arms mid-air.

4. Proper Size and Weight Capacity

Using a scooter that fits your height and weight is critical. A deck that is too small or too large can throw off your balance, making it harder to master how to do a tailwhip on a scooter. Similarly, exceeding the scooter’s weight limit may damage components over time. The right size ensures you can control the scooter and execute clean spins.

5. Built for Tricks

Finally, make sure your scooter is designed specifically for stunts. Scooters meant for commuting often lack the durability and geometry needed for aerial tricks. A stunt scooter has reinforced parts, a lightweight deck, and an optimised design for tricks like tailwhips.

Take Your Scooter Skills Further with iSinwheel E-Scooters

While mastering how to do a scooter tailwhip is best on a stunt scooter, having a reliable, high-performance scooter for practice and daily rides can make a huge difference in your overall scootering experience. iSinwheel e-scooters combine durability, smooth rides, and powerful performance, making them perfect for riders who want to improve balance, coordination, and control.

Images
Feature	S9 Pro	S9 Max	S10MAX	GT1	M2	GT2	Landturbo Pro
Motor Power	350 W	500 W	1000 W	800 W	1000 W peak	1200 W peak	1250 W peak
Top Speed	18.6 mph	21.7 mph	28 mph	28 mph	28 mph	28 mph	32 mph
Max Range	18.6 mi	25 mi	37–44 mi	28 mi	31 mi	37 mi	44 mi
Battery	36 V 7.5 Ah	36 V 10 Ah	54.6 V 15.6 Ah	48 V 10 Ah	48 V 12.5 Ah	48 V 15 Ah	48 V 15.6 Ah
Max Load	220 lbs	264 lbs	330 lbs	330 lbs	440 lbs	330 lbs	330 lbs
Weight	30 lbs	34 lbs	48.7 lbs	52.3 lbs	48.5 lbs	49.6 lbs	60 lbs
Suspension	Dual	Quadruple	Front + rear spring	Front fork + rear spring	Quadruple	Dual	Dual swingarm
Tyres	8.5″ pneumatic	10″ pneumatic	10″ off-road	10″ off-road	10″ off-road	11″ off-road	10″×2.75″ off-road
Brakes	EBAS + rear disc	EBAS + rear disc	Front + rear disc + electronic	Front + rear disc + electronic	Dual disc + EABS	Dual disc + electronic	Dual disc + EABS
Climb Rate	20%	20%	35%	30%	25%	35%	30%

How To Do a Tailwhip on a Scooter: Preparing for Your First Tailwhip

Before learning how to do a scooter tailwhip, it’s important to develop some essential skills. First, make sure you are comfortable riding, able to confidently go straight and make smooth turns. Next, practice your jumping ability by learning the bunny hop, which lifts both wheels off the ground. Finally, focus on deck control by spinning it while stationary to master the “kick flick,” the key motion for a tailwhip. Practising these skills on flat ground helps beginners focus on proper technique and prepares them to attempt their first tailwhip safely.

4 Steps on How To Do a Scooter Tailwhip

Step 1: Master the Kick Flick

Start by practising the core motion while stationary. Place both feet on the deck, grip the handlebars, and use your back foot to kick the tail while guiding the deck with your arms. This builds muscle memory and prepares you for spins in the air.

Step 2: Add Momentum on Flat Ground

Once comfortable with the kick flick, ride on flat surfaces. Push a few times to gain moderate speed while maintaining balance. This helps beginners coordinate movement with the deck spin before attempting jumps.

Step 3: Combine the Bunny Hop with the Kick Flick

Jump and lift the scooter using a bunny hop. At the peak, flick the deck with your back foot and guide it with your arms to complete a 360-degree rotation. Spot the deck and bring your feet back onto it.

Step 4: Perfect Timing and Land Smoothly

Focus on syncing your jump, flick, and landing. Practice each component individually, then combine them. Bend your knees on landing to absorb impact and roll away smoothly, gradually progressing to cleaner and higher tailwhips.

Avoid Common Mistakes When Learning How to Do a Scooter Tailwhip

Even experienced riders make mistakes when learning how to do a scooter tailwhip. Key pitfalls to avoid include:

• If you don’t kick the deck with enough force, it won’t complete a full 360-degree rotation. Practice the kick flick slowly and focus on generating enough power with your back foot to control the spin when learning how to do a scooter tailwhip.

• Poor timing: Jumping too early or spinning too late can throw off the rotation and make landing difficult. Break the trick into components—practice the bunny hop and the deck spin separately before combining them to master the timing.
  

• Botched landings: Catching the deck too soon or too late can result in falls or injuries. Keep your eyes on the deck as it rotates and aim to bring both feet down simultaneously, using your knees to absorb impact.
  

• Rigid posture: Tension in your arms, shoulders, or knees can reduce control during the trick. Keeping your body relaxed allows the deck to spin smoothly and makes landing safer. Fluid motion is key when learning how to do a scooter tailwhip.
  

• Skipping safety gear: Helmets, knee pads, elbow pads, and wrist guards are essential. Wearing the right protective gear not only prevents injuries but also gives you confidence to attempt bigger jumps and improve faster.
  

• Rushing progression: Many beginners try to combine tricks too soon. Focus on mastering each step individually—kick flick, bunny hop, spin, and landing—before attempting the full tailwhip to ensure consistent success.

Tips to Boost Your Scooter Tailwhip Skills

Learning how to do a scooter tailwhip takes practice, patience, and the right techniques. Here are some tips to help you improve faster and land your tailwhips more consistently:

• Trampoline practice: Using a trampoline allows you to practice aerial spins safely. You can focus on mastering the deck rotation without worrying about hard landings, which helps build confidence for real jumps.
  

• Muscle memory drills: Practice the kick flick while stationary on flat ground. Repeating this motion over and over helps your feet and arms work together naturally, so when you go airborne, the deck spins smoothly and predictably.
  

• Increase jump height gradually: More air gives you extra time to rotate the deck fully and spot your landing. Start with small jumps and gradually increase your height as you become comfortable with timing and coordination.
  

• Combine tricks for variety: Once you’ve mastered the basic tailwhip, experiment by combining it with other tricks like bar spins, 180s, or even double tailwhips. Mixing tricks not only improves your overall scootering skills but also keeps practice fun and challenging.
  

• Consistent practice: Regular, focused practice is the key to mastering how to do a scooter tailwhip. Short daily sessions are more effective than long, irregular ones, helping you build coordination, timing, and confidence over time.
  

• Watch and learn from pros: Study videos of professional riders performing tailwhips. Observing their foot placement, timing, and body posture can give you insights that accelerate your learning process.

Safety Precautions When Learning How to Do a Scooter Tailwhip

When learning how to do a scooter tailwhip, safety should always come first. Always wear protective gear, including a helmet, knee pads, elbow pads, and wrist guards, to protect yourself during falls. Practice on smooth, flat, and obstacle-free surfaces so you can focus on your technique without risking injury. Start with low jumps and gradually increase your height as you gain confidence, and only attempt tricks that match your skill level, including advanced variations like double tailwhips. Following these precautions helps beginners build confidence, improve faster, and stay safe while mastering the tailwhip.

Conclusion

Mastering the scooter tailwhip takes patience, consistency, and confidence. If you’re just starting to learn how to do a scooter tailwhip, begin by building your balance and timing on flat ground, then gradually move to higher hops once the motion feels natural.

With dedication, the tailwhip will go from a frustrating challenge to one of your go-to tricks, opening the door to more advanced combos and stylish variations.

If you’re looking for a reliable scooter to practice and progress on, check out iSinwheel scooters. Their models are built with durability, smooth handling, and strong decks—perfect for riders who want to master tricks while also enjoying daily rides.

FAQs

How to do a tailwhip on a scooter easily?

Start with small hops and focus on using your arms to guide the bars while kicking the deck around with your back foot. Keep your body centred, spot the deck, and catch it with your feet before landing. Practice on flat ground before trying ramps. A lightweight, durable scooter like those from iSinwheel makes the trick easier to learn.

Why can't I tailwhip on a scooter?

Most riders struggle because they don’t commit to the spin or fail to control the deck with their arms. Weak hops, slow kicks, or not looking down at the deck can also make it harder. Consistent practice and stronger jumps will fix this.

How hard is a tailwhip on a scooter?

For beginners, the tailwhip can feel tough because it requires timing, balance, and coordination. With practice, it becomes one of the first intermediate tricks you’ll land. It’s challenging at first, but it gets much easier as your scooter control improves.

What is the hardest scooter trick?

While it depends on skill level, some of the hardest tricks include the inward bri-flip, double flare, and 1080 spins. These require advanced control, big air, and lots of practice.