Color guards are groups of people who use physical objects to express music, and they perform in a variety of settings from sporting events to military services. Flags are perhaps the most common piece of marching band equipment. Flag spinning and waving are coordinated with musical beats and rhythms, and different pole shapes, such as half-and-half flags, may aid flag performance. Other varieties, such as swing flags and butterfly flags, are designed for one-handed motions rather than the traditional two-handed flag. Chain flags and T flags, for example, have unusual designs or components that allow for specific movements.
Color guard flags are typically displayed on an aluminum pole. Fiberglass or PVC piping are two other options for the pole’s construction. This typical flag will be about 5 or 6 feet long (1.5 to 1.8 meters) and will have hand stoppers on both ends. The pole is also draped with a flag, which is usually made of silk.
Smaller color guard flags of about three feet are available for one-handed motions (about 0.9 meters). Swing flags are what they’re called. The flag attachment only leaves enough room on the poles for one hand due to its small size. In most cases, a performer will hold one swing flag in each hand.
Color guard chain flags are so named because the flag is attached to a heavy metal chain. As a result, the flags are adaptable and can be bunched and wrapped. They’re frequently used in routines requiring the flag to be wrapped around the body.
A half and half flag is created when metal and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) piping are used in the poles of color guard flags. This structure is frequently found on larger flagpoles. It is preferred in some routines because it allows for both spinning and tossing, as well as reducing drag when the flag must move against the wind.
The placement of the flag also distinguishes different color guard flag types. The T flag, for example, is made up of a T-shaped pole with a flag attached to the upper pole portion. When the flag is secured at the top and bottom of the pole, but not in the middle, the result is a butterfly flag. These latter flags are frequently used to spin two flags at the same time.
Color guard flags are created with the music and theme in mind. Designs should be appealing to the eye and visible from afar. Colors, shapes, and patterns must, however, usually match the mood of the music and the purpose of the routine. The military of a region, for example, might have a color guard that wears the region’s official colors.