

Skate 4 is all about showing off and going wild with its out-of-the-box nature. For this reason, fans are always eager to master flashy moves to turn heads in San Vansterdam. From flying around the city to pulling Christ Airs, action never stops here.
Speaking of that, the community has been talking a lot about handplants lately. Freezing mid-air with your hands planted on an object like a ledge, rail, or ramp is nothing short of amusing. To ensure you please the crowd around you, here’s all the science behind performing handplants in Skate 4.
What Are Handplants?
Before we grab our controllers, let’s discuss handplants and their significance in the skateboarding scene. This move isn’t exclusive to the Skate franchise and is pretty popular among real, professional skaters.
Handplants were a technical skill that went viral in the 1970s and 1980s. They involved grabbing an object while upside down to show off aerial maneuvers with the skateboard still attached. Handplants symbolize transition mastery, which is why players are keen to perform them in Skate.
Performing Handplants In Skate 4

There’s no rocket science to executing a handplant successfully. Any player can perform it day one without unlocking any additional content or progressing further in the game. Here’s how to do a handplant smoothly in Skate 4.
- Skate towards an object.
- Reach the top of its edge.
- Press R1 on PlayStation or RB on Xbox
Once you press the bumper, your character will pause on the edge and hold it to carry a handplant. As you’ll be prone to losing balance on your first attempt, keep an eye on the multiplier for “handplant” at the bottom left of your screen to confirm that you have performed one.
That said, here’s everything you need to know for performing a handplant. While it is indeed simple to execute, practice is key. Look for skateparks or simply quick drop ramps to repeat this move until you develop a thorough muscle memory.
Hungry for more moves? Check out our guide on performing every trick in Skate 4.