Each competitor performed three optional exercises, which were judged by three judges on a 0-5 scale, giving a maximum of 15 points for each exercise, and an overall maximum of 45 points. Full results are not available and only three scores are known in this event. Hermann Glass won the event. He had injured his hand severely in 1903 causing him to concentrate on the rings as his specialist event, but this was his only major title. Runner-up William Merz and third-placed Emil Voigt both represented the Concordia Turnverein in St. Louis.