Building Techniques
The realization of chain reactions with dominoes is a highly creative process with nearly endless options for choosing what to build next. This page presents an overview of selected building techniques to get you started, including the most typical elements of large toppling projects as seen on TV and online video platforms.
Straight Line
The most classic arrangement for preparing a chain reaction
Straight Horizontal Line
Increased domino stability with a slower toppling speed
Straight Double Line
Provides more saliency than just a single straight line
Split
Increases the number of simultaneously toppling domino lines
Double Split
Splitting arrangement based on double instead of single domino lines
Domino Bridge
The most basic form of bridging over another domino line
Bridge
Wooden construction to bridge over another domino line
Stairs
Wooden construction to change the altitude of a toppling domino line
Curve
Basic variant of building a turn of 90 degrees with a single domino line
Double Curve
Basic variant of building a turn of 90 degrees with a double domino line
Falling Turn 1
Trick for realizing a turn of 90 degrees with reduced space requirements
Falling Turn 2
Another trick for realizing a turn of 90 degrees with reduced space requirements
Turning Fence
Wooden construction allowing for a turn of 180 degrees
Tape Turn
Minimal space solution for realizing a turn of 180 degrees using a piece of sticky tape
Field
Rectangular arrangement of dominoes potentially also forming a picture
Fallwall
Wooden construction for building a vertical domino field with square "pixels"
Crossover Field
Displacing every second line of a field for revealing the corresponding picture when toppled
Field Starter
Lengthy piece of plastic on two metal angles for toppling multiple lines at once
Triangle
Increasing number of dominoes in each step until all rows of the field can be toppled simultaneously
Toppling Line
Simple setup for toppling each line of the field one after the other
Spiral
Typical spiral arrangement toppling from the outside to the inside
Double Spiral
Two intertwined spirals toppling from the outside to the inside to the outside again
Circle Field
Circular assemblage of dominoes toppling from the inside to the outside
Simple Tower
The most basic stacking structure involving only two dominoes per layer
Complex Tower
More stable tower suitable for achieving greater heights than a simple tower
2D-Pyramid
An assemblage shaped like the 2D projection of a pyramid to be toppled by removing a single domino
3D-Pyramid
A pyramid-shaped assemblage in three dimensions to be toppled by removing a single domino
Wall
Extension of a 2D-Pyramid resembling the shape of a rectangular wall
Speed Wall
Variant of a regular domino wall resulting in a faster toppling speed
Turtle
Fragile surface made out of dominoes which collapses at a rapid speed
Lines on Lines
Extension of domino lines and fields in three dimensions
Sonimod
Simple visual trick based on subsequently removing the supports of leaning dominoes
Dominoes Sideways 1
Several leaning dominoes designed to move upright when an impulse is given
Dominoes Sideways 2
Several leaning dominoes designed to be knocked over one after the other
Elegant Splitting
An elegantly looking way of combining a split and turns of 90 degrees in both directions
Split Ends
Several subsequent splits arranged such that all end points topple at the same time
Small Triangles
Simple visual trick using three triangularly arranged dominoes as the basic building element
T-Setting
Line of T shapes achieving world-record toppling speeds at larger distances
Builder’s Challenge
Trial for builders with the goal to fill a gap while the dominoes towards it are already toppling
Marble Board
Marble course designed to delay the toppling of a domino line
Pendulum
Ceiling-mounted pendulum swinging in shrinking circles before toppling another domino line
Domino Template
Tool for simplifying the build of straight lines and fields