Hammerlock

A two-hand pattern that finishes a tuck turn with one of the follower's hands folded behind their back — the "hammerlock" hold — usually the entry to a family of wrapped and behind-the-back figures.

One taught version

DrDanceRight teaches it as a sugar tuck where the leader simply keeps both hands: lead the tuck and spin as usual under the raised left hand while the joined right hand stays low, and the follower's arm settles behind their back into the lock.¹

Common notes

• Grip light: "a lot of times we say no thumbs" — fingertip connection lets the hands flip around freely, and hard thumbs on the wrist are how followers get bruised.²
• The exit is a release, not a pull: never tug the locked arm. The follower just walks out with underarm-pass footwork while the leader lets go.³
• The pair ends up offset, follower to the leader's right — the leader deliberately stays off the slot so the follower has a clear lane to walk out on, then drifts back in front.⁴