The heelflip is the mirror image of the kickflip, and yet it feels completely foreign even to skaters who’ve already got a solid kickflip. The flick direction is reversed, and that small change throws off timing that felt automatic a moment ago. Here’s how to rebuild it properly instead of fighting your own muscle memory.
How a Heelflip Differs From a Kickflip
Both tricks pop and spin the board along the same axis, but a heelflip spins in the opposite direction, flicked off the heel side of your front foot instead of the toe side. The pop and catch mechanics are identical to a kickflip; only the flicking foot and direction change, which is exactly why it feels so much harder than it should.
Before You Try It
A consistent ollie is non-negotiable here too, and it genuinely helps to already have a kickflip down, since you’ll understand the pop-flick-catch rhythm even though the flick itself will feel unfamiliar. If you haven’t built that rhythm yet, start with our How to Kickflip for Beginners guide first.
How to Heelflip: Step by Step
Step 1: Set Your Foot Placement
Your back foot stays on the tail as usual. Your front foot sits slightly further onto the board than a kickflip stance, with your heel hanging just off the edge rather than your toes.
Step 2: Pop and Flick With Your Heel
Pop the tail like normal, and as you do, snap your heel down and off the edge of the board. The motion comes from your ankle flicking outward, not from stomping down with your whole foot.
Step 3: Keep Your Front Foot Level Through the Pop
Because the flick comes from the heel side, it’s easy to accidentally lean your weight forward onto your toes right before you flick, which kills the pop. Keep your front foot level as you initiate the motion.
Step 4: Spot the Flip and Catch
Watch the board rotate and catch it with both feet as the grip returns face up, same as a kickflip. The catch window feels slightly different at first simply because you’re not used to reading this rotation direction yet.
Step 5: Land Centered and Commit
Land with your weight centered over the board rather than pitched forward or back, and roll away with confidence. Heelflip landings that get bailed are almost always a hesitation problem, not a flip problem.
Common Mistakes That Kill Your Heelflip
- Trying to kickflip with the wrong foot instead of learning the heel flick fresh — the motion isn’t just a mirrored kickflip, it needs its own practice.
- Leaning onto your toes before flicking — this collapses your pop and produces a weak, low flip.
- Flicking too far forward instead of straight down and out — this sends the board flipping away from you instead of straight up.
- Bailing early out of unfamiliarity — the unfamiliar rotation direction makes skaters bail catches they’d have stuck on a kickflip.
Drills That Speed Up Progress
Standing Heel Flick Drill
Practice the isolated heel flick motion standing next to your board, without popping or riding, until it feels as natural as your kickflip flick.
Slow-Motion Video Review
Film a few attempts and watch them back in slow motion. Heelflips are hard to self-diagnose in real time because the flip happens fast and in an unfamiliar direction, so video makes mistakes far easier to spot.
FAQ
Is the heelflip harder than the kickflip?
Most skaters find it takes longer, mainly because the flicking motion is less intuitive for the front foot and you’re fighting kickflip muscle memory rather than starting fresh.
Do I need to know a kickflip first?
Not strictly, but it helps a lot, since the pop, height, and catch timing carry over directly, leaving only the flick direction to relearn.
Why does my heelflip come out crooked?
An uneven flick, where your heel comes off at an angle instead of straight down and out, causes the board to rotate off-axis. Focus on a clean, straight flick before adding speed.
What’s a good next trick after the heelflip?
Once your heelflip and kickflip both feel solid, our How to Do a Pop Shove-It guide is a natural next step since it uses a different rotation entirely.
Final Thoughts
Give the heelflip its own dedicated practice instead of expecting your kickflip muscle memory to transfer automatically. Isolate the heel flick, keep your weight level through the pop, and commit to the landing. For the full trick progression, see our Skateboard Tricks for Beginners guide.
