Piking the hips in a straddle planche

[Katharina Huemer]

A few questions concerning the straddle planche:

1) Why is a straddle planche so much easier when the hips are piked?

I notice the same thing with straddle front lever. If the hips are piked and not turned out completely, the skill is 10 times easier!
Like in this video: 

Why is that?

2) Can you translate tuck planche hold/advanced tuck planche hold/straddle planche hold?

Like 60secs tuck planche equals 10 secs advanced tuck planche or something like that?

3) If you straddle your legs almost as wide as in a straddle split - would that be equally hard as an advanced tuck planche?
 

Or will the straddle planche still be harder, although you straddle so wide?

Thanks!

 

[Joshua Slocum]

1. Leverage. The legs are closer to the hands, decreasing the length of the lever, meaning the shoulders have to exert less force. 

 

2. There's no translation. This is like asking "how many reps of bench-pressing 100# is equivalent to bench-pressing 200#?". 

 

3. Yes, those would be about the same I think.