A broken needle is an elite cheerleading body position that many flyers work on for years before perfecting. This position requires the flyer to have extreme back flexibility and muscle control. The only difference between a broken needle and a needle is a bend in the “pulled” leg. This skill is executed by entering into a needle, then “breaking” the needle by bending the knee to a 90 degree angle over the flyer’s front shoulder. The flyer should look up while performing this skill.