Last updated: May 15, 2026
The Vertical 8 Hand Pass teaches you how to bring your second hand into the move without stopping the Flow Star. This is where beginner practice starts feeling more connected.
Instead of grabbing the star and starting over, you will learn to guide it from one hand to the other while keeping the vertical path clean.
How Do You Do a Vertical 8 Hand Pass?
Start with a vertical Figure 8, bring the star through the center of your body, give it a small upward pop, and let your other hand receive it on the fingertips. The goal is a soft transfer, not a grab.
Vertical 8 Hand Pass Video Tutorial
Watch the release point. The pass works best when the star comes through the center cleanly and your receiving hand meets it without clamping down.
What to Watch For
Center path: The star passes near the center of your chest instead of drifting way off to one side.
Small upward pop: A tiny lift gives your other hand time to receive the star.
Soft receiving hand: Let the star land on your fingertips instead of grabbing the fabric.
Keep moving: After the pass, guide the star into the next Figure 8 instead of stopping the flow.
Vertical 8 Hand Pass Steps
Begin with a vertical Figure 8 in your dominant hand. Keep the path relaxed and close enough to control before adding the pass.
As the star comes across your body, guide it toward the center of your chest. This gives your receiving hand an easy place to meet it.
Give the star a tiny lift as you release. You are not throwing it high. You are creating a short moment for your other hand to take over.
Let the star land on your receiving fingertips. Then guide it into the next Figure 8 path instead of grabbing, pausing, or resetting completely.
Common Beginner Mistakes
Most hand pass issues come from rushing the transfer or grabbing too hard. Keep the pass soft and centered.
Grabbing kills the spin. Let it land on your fingertips, then guide it into the next move.
Keep the pass around chest height. Big tosses make the timing harder than it needs to be.
If the star tilts, the pass gets messy. Keep the vertical path clean before switching hands.
Give the star a small pop and let the receiving hand meet it instead of snatching at it.
One-Song Practice Drill
Practice Both Directions
Put on one song and practice passing from your dominant hand to your non-dominant hand, then back again. Go slow enough that the transfer stays soft and the Figure 8 path stays clean.
Practice a clean vertical Figure 8 with your dominant hand.
Add the small upward pop through the center without switching hands yet.
Pass to your other hand and reset if the star tilts or folds.
Pass back and forth slowly, focusing on soft hands instead of speed.
Vertical 8 Hand Pass FAQ
A Vertical 8 Hand Pass is a beginner Flow Star trick where you transfer the star from one hand to the other while keeping the vertical Figure 8 path moving.
Learn it after you have practiced the backward and forward Vertical Figure 8s. You do not need them perfect, but the basic path should feel familiar before adding a hand transfer.
The star usually folds during the pass when the spin is too slow, the plane is tilted, or the receiving hand grabs too hard. Keep the pass centered, use a soft catch, and make sure the star still has enough spin.
Start around chest height. That is usually the easiest place to track the star and meet it with your receiving hand without reaching too far.
After the Vertical 8 Hand Pass, move into the Horizontal Figure 8 so you can start practicing a different movement plane.
Need a Flow Star before you practice?
Keep scrolling to browse Flow Star collections below. A Regular Flow Star is usually the easiest place to practice beginner hand passes.
