Another thing one can do when performing a far side cradle is to dig one's head into their opponent's head and squeeze the neck with one's arms, dig one's closest knee to the opponent, into their side, and then take one's free leg and hook their free leg and pull it down to the mat (but not so it is potentially dangerous).

One performs the standing cradle all the way up to the part where one gets their free arm around the opponent's neck before clasping one's hands together to form a grip and trip the opponent quickly to the mat, where one can perform the same moves to the head, side, and leg.

If the wrestler who cradles their opponent cannot get the pin, there is also the opportunity to gain two or three near fall (or back) points in collegiate wrestling.

Given enough foresight and experience, a cradled wrestler can still exert much of their strength and energy to escape from the hold.

Wrestlers with long arms often have an increased chance of properly executing a successful cradle.