What does under-rotated mean in figure skating?
I · Intermediate · Singles elements · 2 of 8The six listed jumps, from easiest, are the toeloop, Salchow, loop, flip, Lutz and Axel. The technical panel checks each landing. A jump short by more than a quarter turn is under-rotated and gets 80 per cent of its value; short by half a turn or more, it is downgraded to one rotation fewer.
How it works
- Order of difficulty: toeloop, Salchow, loop, flip, Lutz, Axel.
- Value: rises with the jump and the number of rotations.
- Less than a quarter short: full value; judges reduce the GOE.
- Landed on the quarter (q): full value; judges reduce the GOE.
- Under-rotated (<): more than a quarter but less than half short; 80 per cent of base value.
- Downgraded (<<): half a turn or more short; valued as one rotation fewer.
- Wrong edge on flip or Lutz (e): a reduced base value; an unclear edge (!) keeps full value.
- Quint jumps: not allowed in any discipline.
The glossary has the listed jumps, the under-rotated, the downgraded jump, the rotation, the Lutz and the flip.
Tricky cases
What does the "q" on a protocol mean?
The jump landed on the quarter: full base value, but the judges reduce the GOE.
A triple Lutz is downgraded. What is it valued as?
A double Lutz.
Why is the Axel the hardest?
It takes off forwards, so it has an extra half rotation. That is the common explanation; the rules list it only as the most difficult.
Can a skater try a quintuple jump?
No. Quint jumps are not allowed in any discipline.
Why the rule exists
A jump is only as hard as the rotation completed in the air. Graded calls let the panel reward a nearly complete jump without paying full price for a cheated one.
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Under-rotated | 80 per cent of base value | ISU 2788 |
| Downgraded | One rotation fewer | ISU 2788 |
| Short program | A jump not meeting the requirements has no value | ISU 2788; ISU 611 |
From the rule book
ISU, Sports Rules: Single & Pair Skating and Ice Dance (as of 12 June 2026), rules 504 (1)(a) and 611 (4), with ISU Communication 2788, Levels of Difficulty and Guidelines for marking GOE and Program Components (2026/27) (requirements for single skating). Checked 14 October 2026. Official documents: the ISU Sports Rules and the season's ISU Communications.