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Hammerlock › History › Revision 2

Revision 2

current

bendichter · Oct 9, 2026, 4:20 PM · Shortened the description.

← Revision 1

Changes from revision 1

Tags: wraps & cuddles, spins & turns, 6-count → 6-count, spins & turns, wraps & cuddles

−A two-hand pattern that finishes a [[Sugar Tuck|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]
+A two-hand pattern that finishes a [[Sugar Tuck|tuck turn]] with one of the follower's hands folded behind their back, the "hammerlock" hold. It is usually the entry to wrapped and behind-the-back figures.
 
−## Common notes
+DrDanceRight teaches it as a sugar tuck where the leader keeps both hands. The follower spins under the raised left hand while the joined right hand stays low, and the follower's arm settles behind their back.[^1] The connection is in the fingertips with no thumbs, so the hands can turn freely and the follower's wrist is not squeezed.[^2]
 
−- 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 [[Right Side Pass|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]
+To exit, the leader lets go and the follower walks out with [[Right Side Pass|underarm-pass]] footwork. The locked arm is never pulled.[^3] The pair ends up offset, with the follower to the leader's right, and the leader stays off the slot until the follower has walked out.[^4]
 
[^1]: DrDanceRight, ["West Coast Swing 106: Hammerlock"](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tViu2wllUus&t=9s) at 0:09–0:46.
[^2]: DrDanceRight, ["West Coast Swing 106: Hammerlock"](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tViu2wllUus&t=25s) at 0:25.
[^3]: DrDanceRight, ["West Coast Swing 106: Hammerlock"](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tViu2wllUus&t=70s) at 1:10.
[^4]: DrDanceRight, ["West Coast Swing 106: Hammerlock"](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tViu2wllUus&t=95s) at 1:35.
Page as of this revision

Hammerlock

intermediate

also known as: Hammerlock Position

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

DrDanceRight teaches it as a sugar tuck where the leader keeps both hands. The follower spins under the raised left hand while the joined right hand stays low, and the follower's arm settles behind their back.1 The connection is in the fingertips with no thumbs, so the hands can turn freely and the follower's wrist is not squeezed.2

To exit, the leader lets go and the follower walks out with underarm-pass footwork. The locked arm is never pulled.3 The pair ends up offset, with the follower to the leader's right, and the leader stays off the slot until the follower has walked out.4

Footnotes

  1. DrDanceRight, "West Coast Swing 106: Hammerlock" at 0:09–0:46. ↩

  2. DrDanceRight, "West Coast Swing 106: Hammerlock" at 0:25. ↩

  3. DrDanceRight, "West Coast Swing 106: Hammerlock" at 1:10. ↩

  4. DrDanceRight, "West Coast Swing 106: Hammerlock" at 1:35. ↩