Why are back flips easier than forward flips?

[SaneAdam]

I find front flips a lot easier than back flips.

[Stanley Speel]

I find back flips much easier - in fact I've only done front flips a few times. I also hate flipping while nose / tail in - almost always flip side on .

[James A]

Well I do back flips to inverted followed by a front flip back to right way up.......who knows.

[Sesame]

I think its what you do the most, and this is usually what you try first, you do it a few times it gets easier, you then try the opposite and hey! thats harder. which physically we know it isn't, so as plenty have said its in the head.

nearly all flyers are handed to some extent, its just the better pilots hide it really well

[AcidDrink]

I used to find right rudder manevuers (CCW) easier than left rudder just because someone told me to do stall turns CCW, so this is what I've learned first.
I stopped using right rudder for a week or tow and now left is pretty much the same is right and I started to mix them.
It's a preference thing. It's very easy to become "handed" when learning simple motor skills, that's why it's good to practice in both "directions", left, right, forward/backwards, upside down/upright etc. and start to mix them as soon as possible.
One of the best advices I've got when I started was to learn inverted as soon as possible.

[waveydavey]

Oh god so this must mean my brain is wired up backwards

Actually I do find nose in inverted a lot easier than nose in upright, I'm seeing a pattern lol

You're not alone

[heli]

I think this is defo mental issue and to do with programming the subconscious part of the brain and also part of the handed syndrome. I find myself doing everything the same until my fully buddy says "can't you do it the other way!" I also prefer my right to left and I'm still struggling with CW turns on my left side where CCW turn on my right are normally good. But I keep at it and try and make sure I practice as much of the other way. When it comes to flips I can go both ways and I usually do them side on. Problem is the second flip is a mess as I've mixed some aileron with my dumb thumbs and usually requires a rescue to get back in shape. Oh the joy :-)