Hammerlock Doble
Salsa hammerlock entered or resolved with a double turn
SalsaLevel: Intermediate2 min read5 citations
See it danced
Video demo
The hammerlock is one of salsa's signature wrapped figures: a shape in which one of the follower's arms is folded gently behind her back while the joined hands remain connected, used both as a momentary destination and as a passing transition inside larger turn patterns.[1] Cataloged under the standard English name "hammerlock" across salsa turn-pattern references, it most often begins from a catch of the follower's hand — the leader lifting and rotating the joined hands so her arm spirals down toward the small of her back.[2] In the doble form a single spin becomes two: rather than resolving on one turn, the leader drives a continuous double rotation so the follower revolves twice as the lock settles, a layering documented as the hammerlock with double turn.[3]
A light hand flick commonly punctuates the instant the arm reaches the lock, both stylizing the shape and keeping the lead's connection alive through the spiral; instructional treatments single out clean hand-flick execution as the detail that separates a polished hammerlock from a rough one.[4] Danced On1, the figure breaks on counts 1 and 5, with the catch and turn preparation filling the first measure and the double rotation resolving across the second. Generally taught at an intermediate-to-advanced level — the catch-to-hammerlock entry sits in Level 3 syllabi — it is most established in slot-based On1 and On2 styles, where the On1 turn is also known informally as the pretzel.[5]
How it's danced
Lead and follow cues
CountOn1 — two measures; breaks on 1 and 5 (steps on 1-2-3 and 5-6-7, with 4 and 8 held). The catch and turn preparation sit on the first measure; the double rotation completes across 5-6-7 of the second.
Lead
On1. Break back on 1 onto the left foot; on 2-3 catch the follower's hand and raise it, beginning a clockwise (her right, outside) turn. Across the second measure (5-6-7) power a continuous double rotation, guiding the caught hand overhead and then down behind her back so it settles into the hammerlock wrap on 7. Stage the rotation as roughly ~360 degrees by count 6 and a second ~360 degrees by count 7 (~720 degrees total); keep compression light and the lock low so the arm never strains, and mark the settle with a small hand flick.
Follow
On1. Mirror the leader: break back on 1 onto the right foot (opposite foot, same backward direction relative to the body). On 2-3 begin a clockwise turn under the raised hand. Across 5-6-7 complete a continuous double rotation, letting the caught arm spiral down and fold gently behind the back into the wrap by 7. Spot the turn to control the ~720 degrees (two staged ~360-degree rotations) and keep the shoulder relaxed so the lock stays comfortable.
Song timingOn1 salsa across roughly 150-185 bpm; the double rotation wants beat space, so mid-tempo around 160-175 bpm suits it best, while 190+ bpm rushes the spin and the arm wrap.
Learn first
Prerequisites
- cross-body lead.
- single hammerlock (basic wrap).
- right / outside underarm turn.
- double spin with spotting.
- prepared and cushioned turns.
Watch out
Common mistakes
- Cranking the wrapped arm too high up the back instead of keeping the lock low and light, straining the follower's shoulder.
- Under-rotating the double turn so the follower stops short and the wrap lands crooked.
- Losing the hand connection during the spiral so the catch slips and the wrap collapses.
- Initiating the double rotation before the break is settled, robbing the follower of balance for two turns.
- Gripping too tightly, which prevents the follower from spotting and spinning freely.
Don't confuse with
Easily confused moves
- Paso cruzado / cruzado — 'cross step' footwork, not this figure.
- Plain hammerlock (single turn) — the foundation without the doble's double rotation.
- Pretzel when used for a larger multi-arm tangle — overlaps with the hammerlock but can name a bigger pattern.
- Sombrero (Cuban casino) — a separate circular wrapping figure, not a hammerlock.
Around the world
Other names
Los Angeles On1 / US slot salsa
Hammerlock
Standard English term for the wrapped arm-behind-the-back figure; 'doble' marks the double-turn form.
US salsa (informal)
Pretzel
Used for the hammerlock turn; can also denote a larger multi-arm tangle, so the terms overlap.
New York On2 (mambo)
Hammerlock (English term used)
Same figure danced on the 2; no distinct local name.
Spanish-language linear scenes (Puerto Rico, Miami, Latin America)
Hammerlock (English term used as a loanword)
The double-turn entry is described as 'doble'; no separately attested native coinage.
References
The bracketed numbers in the text show which source each fact comes from. Tap or click one to jump to that source in this list.
- 1.Hammer Lock in Salsa turn patterns — www.salsaisgood.com
- 2.Catch to Hammerlock Salsa Level 3 Dance Video Lessons — www.quicksteps.com.au
- 3.Latin Dances: Salsa Hammerlock and Hammerlock with double turn — heelsdance.blogspot.com
- 4.Basic Salsa Dance Hammerlock Hand Flick — www.addicted2salsa.com
- 5.Hammerlock Turn or Pretzel | Salsa On1 Video Lesson — dancepapi.com
How to cite this article
Choose a style and copy the citation.
Bailar Editorial Team. (2026). Hammerlock Doble. Bailar Biblioteca. Retrieved October 13, 2026, from https://getbailar.com/biblioteca/move/hammerlock-doble
Bailar Editorial Team. “Hammerlock Doble.” Bailar Biblioteca, 2026, getbailar.com/biblioteca/move/hammerlock-doble. Accessed 13 October 2026.
Bailar Editorial Team. “Hammerlock Doble.” Bailar Biblioteca. Accessed October 13, 2026. https://getbailar.com/biblioteca/move/hammerlock-doble.
@misc{bailar-move-hammerlock-doble, author = {{Bailar Editorial Team}}, title = {{Hammerlock Doble}}, year = {2026}, howpublished = {Bailar Biblioteca}, url = {https://getbailar.com/biblioteca/move/hammerlock-doble}, note = {Accessed: 2026-10-13} }
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