PL - fingers backward; is it awkward?

I bet you'd like to learn your planche with your fingers pointing at your feet (fingers pointing backwards) for two reasons:

1. it looks soooo cool!

2. You'd like stronger biceps!

In my case there's yet a third reason:

3. Fingers pointing forward really hurt my wrist ('cuz I just don't have enough wrist flexibility).

Yang Wei does a great planche with fingers pointing backwards here:

But the question is: isn't it awkward/uncomfortable to connect the planche to other moves like handstands, etc.? (with fingers pointing backwards, of course). I mean, I haven't tried a handstand with my fingers pointing backwards but I'm guessing it's uncomfortable.

Any opinions, comments?

Performing a planche with fingers turned to the rear is much more biceps specific and is not recommended for beginning level athletes.

If you find fingers forward to be too uncomfortable, you may also perform your floor planche work with the fingers turned sideways, up on the first knuckles, up on fingertips or on parallets.

Yours in Fitness,

Coach Sommer

Oh poop! I was teaching myself to do it this way! i was learning pretty ok too. But i guess i will go back to the way iw as doing it. The most comfortable way i have found though is not that different. The only thing supporting my weight is my thumb. My fingers are pointed backwards and my thumb is in the front propped on the pad. These are most comfortable for me. is this recommended or is it the same scenario?

As long as the crease of the elbow is not facing forward (this will result in too much brachialis tension for your level of development), the hand/finger/thumb position is a matter of personal preference.

Yours in Fitness,

Coach Sommer

At what point is an athlete ready for training with the hands backwards? And also is it okay to practice the fingers back on the lean, and forward for the tuck/advtuck/straddle/full?

At what point is an athlete ready for training with the hands backwards?

When you are strong enough to perform legless rope climbs and bowers and then have progressed thru several stages of advanced ring strength training.

And also is it okay to practice the fingers back on the lean,

No.

and forward for the tuck/advtuck/straddle/full?

Yes.

Yours in Fitness,

Coach Sommer