The pop shove-it is often one of the first non-ollie tricks skaters attempt, and it trips people up in a very specific way: they end up spinning their whole body instead of just the board. Getting the scoop technique right fixes this almost immediately.
What a Pop Shove-It Actually Is
A pop shove-it rotates the board 180 degrees underneath you while you stay facing the same direction, unlike a trick where you and the board turn together. The board spins on a flat, horizontal axis, driven by a scoop from your back foot rather than a flick from your front foot like a kickflip.
Before You Try It
A solid ollie is still the foundation here, since the pop shove-it uses the same tail pop, just paired with a scooping motion instead of a straight-down pop. If your ollie pop feels weak or inconsistent, spend more time there first with our How to Ollie for Beginners guide.
How to Pop Shove-It: Step by Step
Step 1: Set Your Back Foot at an Angle
Place your back foot on the tail at a slight angle rather than straight across, with your toes pointed slightly off the edge. This angle is what lets you scoop the board around instead of just popping it straight up.
Step 2: Scoop the Tail Backward
As you pop, scoop your back foot backward and slightly around, dragging the tail in a small arc rather than snapping it straight down. This scoop is what actually spins the board, more scoop generally means more rotation.
Step 3: Keep Your Front Foot Light
Your front foot should stay light on the board during the pop, guiding the board’s height without blocking its rotation. Pressing down too hard with your front foot can stop the spin partway through.
Step 4: Watch the Board Spin Below You
Track the board with your eyes as it rotates, rather than looking straight ahead the whole time. Spotting the rotation helps you time your catch for when the board completes its 180.
Step 5: Catch and Land Level
Land with both feet roughly where they started, over the bolts, as the board finishes its spin. A level landing, rather than one foot catching before the other, is what makes the trick feel clean instead of clumsy.
Common Mistakes That Kill Your Pop Shove-It
- Scooping too hard — an aggressive scoop overspins the board, similar to flicking too hard on a kickflip.
- Popping straight down instead of scooping — without the scoop motion, you’ll just get a regular ollie with no rotation at all.
- Pressing down with your front foot too early — this can stop the board’s spin before it completes the full 180.
- Turning your whole body with the board — the trick spins the board under you, not you with the board; keep your shoulders facing forward.
Drills That Speed Up Progress
Stationary Scoop Drill
Practice the scoop motion with your back foot while standing next to the board, getting a feel for how much scoop produces a clean 180 without watching your feet the whole time.
Shove-It Without the Pop
Try scooting the board around 180 degrees while it’s still on the ground, without any pop at all, just to isolate the rotation motion before adding height to it.
FAQ
What’s the difference between a pop shove-it and an ollie?
An ollie pops straight up with no rotation; a pop shove-it adds a scooping motion with the back foot that spins the board 180 degrees while you stay facing forward.
Why does my board only spin halfway?
That usually means your scoop is too light, or your front foot is pressing down too early and stopping the rotation before it finishes.
Why do I land on the nose or tail instead of flat?
This usually means your timing is slightly off, catching the board before or after the 180 completes. Watching the board rotate instead of looking straight ahead helps fix the timing.
What trick should I learn after the pop shove-it?
Once it feels consistent, our How to Kickflip for Beginners guide is a natural next step, since it uses a completely different rotation and flick.
Final Thoughts
The pop shove-it comes down to isolating the scoop motion and trusting it to do the work, rather than trying to force the rotation with your whole body. Practice the scoop standing still first, then add the pop once it feels natural. For more tricks to add to your list, see our Skateboard Tricks for Beginners guide.
