Did a search and couldn't find anything; apologies if this is addressed elsewhere.
I really struggle with my flipturns. What I took for granted in my youth is now quite a challenge. I find that I'm much more worn out after a swim if I've done flipturns, and I don't think I swim any faster or more efficiently when I do flipturns.
It's difficult to pace myself consistently, so my approach to the wall is the first problem I encounter. I try to have about a foot or two between my outstretched arm and the wall before I begin the turn. Even if I manage to do this successfully, I find myself sinking quite a bit during the turn, so much so that I can't flip in the shallow end of the pool without scraping knees and elbows on the bottom!
I'm a distance swimmer, so I'm not sure speeding up will do me much good in the long run.
Suggestions for a better flipturn are appreciated.
I find myself sinking quite a bit during the turn, so much so that I can't flip in the shallow end of the pool without scraping knees and elbows on the bottom!
This sentence makes it sound like you are flipping very slowly (if you have time to sink). You might try the 5 strokes then somersault drill where you swim freestyle for 5 strokes (breathing on any of the first 4) then follow the arm of your 5th stroke forward into a very small and fast somersault (do this in the middle of the pool - not on the wall). They key is to be as small (tucked) as possible - knees to chest, feet to rear end, chin down - trying to flip as fast as possible. You may just need some more momentum going into your turns...?
I find myself sinking quite a bit during the turn, so much so that I can't flip in the shallow end of the pool without scraping knees and elbows on the bottom!
This sentence makes it sound like you are flipping very slowly (if you have time to sink). You might try the 5 strokes then somersault drill where you swim freestyle for 5 strokes (breathing on any of the first 4) then follow the arm of your 5th stroke forward into a very small and fast somersault (do this in the middle of the pool - not on the wall). They key is to be as small (tucked) as possible - knees to chest, feet to rear end, chin down - trying to flip as fast as possible. You may just need some more momentum going into your turns...?
