Quick answer: a cartwheel and a roundoff look similar at the start, but a cartwheel lands sideways on one foot after the other, while a roundoff snaps the legs together and lands on both feet facing backward - which is what makes the roundoff useful for entering running tumbling passes.
| Cartwheel | Roundoff | |
|---|---|---|
| Landing direction | Sideways, facing the direction of travel | Facing back the way you came |
| Hand placement | One hand, then the other, sequentially | Both hands together, near-simultaneous |
| Typical use | Foundational skill | Entry skill for running tumbling passes |
The Core Difference
Both skills share the same sideways, hand-to-hand rotation, but they finish differently. A cartwheel finishes sideways, one foot landing after the other. A roundoff finishes with both feet landing together, facing back the way the athlete started.
Why the Difference Matters
The roundoff's finishing position converts forward running momentum into backward tumbling power, which is exactly what's needed to enter a back handspring or further connected skills. A cartwheel's sideways finish doesn't set up the same backward momentum.
How They're Used Differently
Cartwheels are typically a foundational, stand-alone or connecting skill. Roundoffs are almost always used specifically as the entry skill for running tumbling passes.
Related Skills
See Aerial for a no-handed version of the cartwheel, and Back Handspring for the skill a roundoff most commonly leads into.