Dexterity [dex]

There are several different types of dexterities, differentiated by type, timing, and by some body components.

The dexterity add is often abbreviated as “dex” (pl. “dexes”). The word “dex” may also be used as a verb for brevity, e.g., “You then dex the bag with your setting foot, from in to out…”, but this usage is not as common.

Dexterity Types

At the highest level of abstraction, there are really only two types of dexterities: out-to-in (abbreviated “out-in”) and in-to-out (“in-out”). However, it turns out some dexterities are much harder than others, and can only be done in certain locations relative to the body and footbag.

As in many aspects of freestyle, to enumerate these variations, we refer to basic, or prototypical moves that exhibit the particular style of dexterity. In general, such prototypical moves are the ones that are done “down-time” or “mid-time” (aka “hang-time”).

Here are the 10 commonly-accepted prototypical moves that demonstrate the basic ways dexterities are done:

1. Around the World (ATW) – a full circling of the footbag (usually in-out).
2. Mirage – an in-out traversal of one leg over the top of the footbag’s parabolic motion, while the footbag passes under the leg.
3. Illusion – an out-in traversal of one leg over the top of the footbag’s parabolic motion, with the dex done leggy style.
4. Pickup – an out-in transfer from one leg to the other (not requiring a full dexterity because of the larger resulting “window“)
5. Legover
6. Whirl
7. Reverse Whirl
8. Swirl
9. Reverse Swirl
10. Butterfly

Timing Of Dexterities

Dexterities can be performed at any of three different times during a move:

Uptime

while the footbag is going upwards in its parabolic motion.

Midtime/Hangtime

when the footbag is at the apex of its parabolic motion.

Downtime

while the footbag is falling in the final phase of its parabolic motion.

Dexterity Body Adds

There are some body adds that only exist only in the context of dexterities. They include Symposium, X-Dex and Paradox.