Last updated: May 15, 2026
The Bus Driver is a Phase 2 Flow Star trick that builds hand positioning, release timing, and larger circular transitions. It gives you another way to keep movement connected without fully stopping your flow.
This move is all about clean catch points and smooth releases. Go slow first, find the timing, then use it as a connector between other tricks.
How Do You Do the Bus Driver?
Catch the Flow Star near the lower side of the circle, guide it upward like you are turning a wheel, release near the top, then repeat the same motion with the other hand. The goal is clean timing through the circle, not gripping harder.
Bus Driver Video Tutorial
Watch the catch and release points closely. The Bus Driver gets smoother when your hands move through the circle without holding on too long.
What to Watch For
Lower catch point: Catch the star near the lower side of the circle so you have room to guide it up.
Top release: Let your fingers release near the top instead of hanging on too long.
Two-hand rhythm: Alternate hands so the movement feels connected instead of stop-and-start.
Large circle: Keep the path open and rounded so the transition has room to breathe.
Bus Driver Steps
Catch the Flow Star near the lower side of the circle. Think of it like catching the bottom of a steering wheel before turning it upward.
Bring the star around the circle with a smooth hand path. Keep your fingers relaxed so the star can rotate without getting locked in your grip.
Let your fingers release near the top of the circle. If you hang on too long, the star loses momentum and the transition feels choppy.
Bring the opposite hand in and repeat the same catch, guide, and release. Keep the timing steady so the move becomes a connector instead of a stop.
Common Bus Driver Mistakes
Most Bus Driver problems come from gripping too hard, releasing too late, or making the circle too small.
If you miss the top release, the star loses momentum. Let your fingers go before the movement stalls.
A tiny circle makes the move feel cramped. Open the path so the star has room to rotate.
Gripping too hard kills the transition. Use your fingers to guide the star, not clamp it down.
The move should alternate smoothly. Bring the next hand in before the momentum fully dies.
One-Song Practice Drill
Practice the Timing Before the Transition
Put on one song and practice the Bus Driver slowly. Focus on the lower catch, the top release, and bringing the other hand in before the movement stops. Smooth timing matters more than making it big right away.
Practice the lower catch point and guide the star upward with one hand.
Add the top release and reset after each rep.
Bring in the other hand and practice alternating slowly.
Try using the Bus Driver as a connector between two other tricks.
Bus Driver FAQ
The Bus Driver is an intermediate Flow Star trick where you catch, guide, and release the star in a large circular path, similar to turning a steering wheel.
It helps to know the Backward Vertical Figure 8 and other Phase 2 tricks first, especially if you want to use the Bus Driver as a transition between moves.
Use the top release point to carry the momentum into another move, like a Backward Vertical Figure 8, Pizza Toss, or another Phase 2 transition. The key is releasing before the motion stalls.
It usually feels choppy when the catch point is too late, the release point is too late, or the next hand comes in after the momentum has already died. Slow down and practice the timing in pieces.
After the Bus Driver, head back to the Phase 2 Intermediate Flow Star Tricks page and practice linking Waterfall, Three Beat Weave, Levitating Spin, Buzz Saw, and Bus Driver together.
Need a Flow Star before you practice?
Keep scrolling to browse Flow Star collections below. A Regular Flow Star is a solid choice for learning intermediate transition tricks.
