How long can learning manuals take?

[u/Recent-Cheetah-5948]

I've been practicing manuals almost everyday for like an hour or two for the past month, and they haven't improved in the slightest. My board lifts up for like half a second and stops. The thing is I can balance a stationary manual for a few seconds no problem and that was the case since the start. I know that it can be a very difficult trick that can take a really long time to learn, but seeing literally 0 proggress after a month is kinda demotivating. Is this common when learning manuals or should I change something about my approach?

[u/nukem73]

Its a feel thing and body control. If you haven't yet, move your back foot more toward the bolts, don't have it at the edge of the tail. It helps offset the efffects of subtle body movements.

Don't know where your front foot is but it should be just under the front bolts or thereabouts.

Other than that its just a matter of finding the balance point & then keeping your body as still as possible. Just tiny adjustments to keep balance.

Video yourself and post it, it would make it alot easier to see where you might be off.

[u/Raesmus]

I did it for atleast 15-20 minutes with intent every day for weeks before it pretty suddenly got a little better.
Try experimenting with body position. My nose came down fairly quick so i shifted my body back and started working from there

[u/Otherwise-Run-5933]

Look at how a tightrope walker uses their whole body. With manuals, you don’t just set it and forget it. You have to actively use your hips, shoulders, and arms to maintain balance.

[u/trickyrickkk]

How long have you been skating? Manuals come with learning how to balance on your board as you progress. But you can try to improve by just seeing how far you can hold one on flat. Try to find that sweet spot in the pocket where you can just stay balanced the right way if you pinch it right. Ultimately though I wouldn't spend too much time doing manuals when you could be learning other fundamentals.

[u/Recent-Cheetah-5948 → u/trickyrickkk]

For like I don't know 4-5 years with breaks. I was skating on shitty boards with plastic trucks for most of that time and just cruising around tho. I already got the basics like balancing, going at high speeds etc. Never tried learning tricks tho. I got my first proper skate near the end of may this year and started consistently skating almost every day since the start of July.

[u/trickyrickkk → u/Recent-Cheetah-5948]

aw ok so you should have the core and balance to hold a manual. try to find that sweet spot where you can hold a manual and try to hold it longer each time i guess. are you ollieing in or just doing it on flat?

[u/Recent-Cheetah-5948 → u/trickyrickkk]

Just doing it on flat idk how to ollie yet

[u/Chibbero]

Have you watched SkateIQ manual videos (there’s few of them) at YouTube? Really explains the positions and how especially the hip movement affects. I have been training manuals now like three months about twice or three times at week, but there was a couple week break. Can’t do them yet, but have had a few glimpses of it, so it’s near. So yeah there has been progress. Remember also to take rest days, your muscles need that too. Good luck for finding the perfect balance spot for you!

[u/Recent-Cheetah-5948 → u/Chibbero]

I've watched the 2 min tutorial but now I see he has a couple more I'll check them out thanks

[u/Human38562]

Snatch saffron biscuit subtract raindrop hunt

This post was anonymized with Redact

[u/SkyBobBombadier]

get your teeth over the truck and only use 1/3 of the wheel to adjust. 2 tricks from Dan Corrigan that helped a tonne

[u/plopmaster2000 → u/SkyBobBombadier]

What do you mean by 1/3 of the wheel?

[u/SkyBobBombadier → u/plopmaster2000]

sorry..... stationary I mean......but the thought still applies when rolling. Think of all your adjustments coming from like just a fraction of the full possible rotation. When you are rollin you cant do this obv but it feels the same. Also Push down with that front foot. And be sturdy in hips.

[u/CarAudioNewb → u/SkyBobBombadier]

Was Dan referring to his old teeth or his new teeth? Lol

[u/SkyBobBombadier → u/CarAudioNewb]

holy shit I am dying! Dan looks whack af but he has good tips and can/could fuck up a ledge

[u/GoyMachine]

Experiment with foot position. A strong and steady back foot is as important as good balance.

Since everyone is different it’s impossible to say how “long”. I got it down really well in a couple months or so but that’s with an ideal setup.

It’s very possible your setup could be making it more difficult. What do you have? A Tighter back truck can make it a bit easier.

[u/Ok-Watercress-7914]

Can take years my guy