Quick answer: a low V is a motion in which both arms extend straight down and out from the shoulders, forming an inverted V shape - the downward counterpart to the high V.
What Does It Look Like?
Both arms are fully straight, angled down and outward, mirroring each other to form an upside-down V. On the clock-face description coaches often use, the arms sit at roughly "four o'clock and eight o'clock." As with the high V, the arms are held very slightly in front of the body rather than behind the hips.
Hands and Arms
The fists are tight, with the thumb wrapped over the outside of the fingers, and the wrists stay straight so the fists continue the line of the arms. Elbows are locked, and the shoulders stay down and level.
Common Mistakes Judges Notice
- Arms too close to the body - the low V collapses towards a clean position.
- Arms too high - drifting up towards a T.
- Bent elbows or broken wrists - so the line from shoulder to fist isn't straight.
- Uneven sides - one arm wider or lower than the other.
- Team mismatch - athletes using different angles, which is easy to spot when the whole team hits the position together.
Where It Fits in a Routine
The low V often appears in chants and dances as a contrast to higher motions - for example a high V followed by a low V - and as a steady, controlled position to hold during a count or transition. Because it's a relaxed-looking shape, teams have to work to keep it sharp rather than letting it drift into a resting position.
Easily Confused With
- High V - the same shape pointed up.
- Clean - arms straight down close to the sides, rather than angled out.
- Low touchdown - arms straight down and parallel, close together.
- Diagonal - uses a low V arm on one side and a high V arm on the other.
Parent Questions
Is a low V easier than a high V? It's no harder to make the shape, but it can be harder to keep sharp, because arms pointing down tend to relax. Judges watching motion technique will notice a team whose low Vs are soft or uneven.
Related Motions
See the high V, clean and diagonal, or browse the full motion chart.