How does the amount of arm swing to maintain balance on a stuck vault affect the score?

When assessing the impact of an arm swing during a stuck vault, judges look for how effectively a gymnast maintains balance upon landing. A small and controlled arm swing can signify that the gymnast is making a conscious effort to stabilize their body position after landing.

If the swing is minimal, the deduction remains low—as in the range of 0.1 points. This level of deduction is appropriate because it reflects a minor issue that does not significantly detract from the overall performance. In contrast, excessive arm swinging to regain balance could result in larger deductions, but since the question specifically pertains to maintaining balance with a stuck vault, the focus is on subtle movements.

In this context, the decision for the lowest potential deduction aligns with the expectation that while some arm movement is acceptable, it should not overshadow the achievement of a clean landing. Thus, recognizing the proportionality of the arm swing in relation to the vault's execution is crucial in the scoring. This is why the appropriate deduction, given a slight arm swing on a stuck vault, is limited to 0.1.