The current study examined differences in the kinematics between successful and failed landings of a wolf jump on the balance beam. Subjects were 35 elite level gymnasts performing in competition. Discrete point analysis and Analyses of Characterizing Phases found that failed landings involved higher initial YY component of the inertia tensor, body angle in the X direction at takeoff and landing, and the Z-component of angular velocity during the descent of the jump (p < 0.05). While initial higher YY inertial tensor values may have been adjusted during the descent, it is possible that focusing on this factor may have prevented the gymnasts from dealing with the other error in body position; specifically the angle of the body in the X direction.