I just started Masters swimming and competed at my first meet at Colonies Zone in April with VMST. It was my first swim meet EVER and I was glad I just made it through my races. My times were SLOW - but that for another thread!
I think I need to learn how to do a flip turn - especially for backstroke and freestyle because 1) I think I look too goofy being one of a FEW swimmers who is still swimming to the wall and touching and 2) I think it would help my times a bit.
Problem is, I am still twisted after my feet hit the wall. Should I just not try them or try them and potentially get DQed - or just looking bad?
Like others have said, learn to push off on your back (i.e. a backstroke pushoff), then roll over (roll to your left so you are looking at the lane line that you will be swimming closest to when you circle swim). I roll the other way and it makes circle swimming a bit more difficult for me.
Don't pause when you feet touch the wall. Your quads should already be contracting forcefully just before your feet touch so you spend very little time on the wall. Trick is to already have your arms in the streamline position just before your feet touch. Your arms should stay straight at your sides and stationary during your flip. When your body flips over all of a sudden your arms are outstretched over your head so all you need to do is join your hands into the streamline for the push off.
Once you master flipping and pushing off on your back, you will slowly integrate a bit more roll during your flip.
Like others have said, learn to push off on your back (i.e. a backstroke pushoff), then roll over (roll to your left so you are looking at the lane line that you will be swimming closest to when you circle swim). I roll the other way and it makes circle swimming a bit more difficult for me.
Don't pause when you feet touch the wall. Your quads should already be contracting forcefully just before your feet touch so you spend very little time on the wall. Trick is to already have your arms in the streamline position just before your feet touch. Your arms should stay straight at your sides and stationary during your flip. When your body flips over all of a sudden your arms are outstretched over your head so all you need to do is join your hands into the streamline for the push off.
Once you master flipping and pushing off on your back, you will slowly integrate a bit more roll during your flip.
