How to Improve Your Front 1½ Tuck (103C): Step-by-Step Progression from Beginner to Expert

The front 1½ tuck (103C) is one of the first “big” dives you’ll learn — and one of the most important ones to get right as you progress toward 2½s and 3½s.

It takes great posture, strong board work, and a tight, controlled kickout.

In this post, I’ll walk you through the full progression of 103C — from beginner mistakes to expert-level technique. If you're learning this dive or coaching someone who is, this guide will help you level up fast.

3 Early Mistakes in Front 1½s (And How to Fix Them)

1. Leaning Forward = Jumping Out

A common issue for beginners is leaning too far forward on the hurdle and takeoff. This sends the dive out and away from the board — making rotation and entries harder to control.

Diver Guy’s Tip: Keep your chest up and your head tall. The board will give you the distance — your job is to go up.

2. Arm Circles Cut Short

If your arms only reach 9 or 10 o’clock, you’re leaving power on the table. You want them fully extended — ideally to 12 o’clock — before initiating the tuck.

Diver Guy’s Tip: Watch your timing. Wait for the board to push before you finish your circle. Don’t rush it.

3. Tuck and Kickout Are Sloppy

Newer divers tend to grab loosely and kick out with arms and legs at the same time. That combo leads to wild rotations and messy entries.

Diver Guy’s Tip: Practice grabbing tighter — either at the knees or shins — and always lead the kickout with your legs. Save the arms for just before entry.

Watch the Progression: Beginner to Expert (Video Breakdown)

Watch the full dive breakdown here:

As you’ll see in the video, this dive goes through some major transformations:

Beginner Stage:

  • Quick hurdles with little board bend

  • Feet far from the edge of the board

  • Head and chest drop early

  • Loose tucks and rushed kickouts

Intermediate Progress:

  • Arms reach closer to vertical

  • Tuck is tighter, kickout is cleaner

  • Still a little lean and open pike on exit

  • Board timing is improving, but posture needs work

Advanced & Expert:

  • Feet are at the edge of the board

  • Arms finish at 12 o’clock

  • Head and chest stay up much longer

  • Legs kick out first

  • Arms finish the entry for a rip

One top-level diver in the video shows a super clean kickout — with his legs sweeping down first and hands reaching after. The result? Tight pike position and a vertical, clean entry.

Final Takeaways: How to Level Up Your 103C

Here’s your technical checklist for mastering this dive:

  •  Keep your chest tall on the hurdle

  • Arms to 12 o’clock before tucking

  • Wait for the board to fully lift you before initiating the tuck

  • Kick out legs-first, then reach

  • Finish with hands close to your head, not far behind

As you improve this dive, it becomes one of the best drills for your front 2½ tuck and eventually front 3½ tuck. Mastering posture and kickout now will pay off big time down the road.

Need help fixing your 103C? I offer virtual coaching for divers at all levels.

👉 Click here to learn more about virtual coaching

Got questions about this dive? Drop them in the comments or DM me — I answer every single one.

See you on the next dive!
- DG

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