Hi, all. Not sure if this topic has been covered in other threads (searched but didn't find it) so I'm hoping I can get some advice and guidance regarding my flip turns. The issue is that almost immediately after kicking off the wall from my flip turns I feel desperate for air, which forces me to end my streamlining sooner than I should just so that I can take a breath. Additionally, doing a flutter kick or dolphin kick while streamlining makes me feel even more fatigued, which makes me break for air even sooner. The result is that I feel like I spend most of the next lap recovering from the flip turn rather than building on the momentum I should be getting from it. Also, obviously, decreased streamlining means I'm exerting more energy, as I have to swim farther (i.e., higher stroke count per lap).
Are there any drills or workouts I should be focusing on to improve in this area? For reference, when swimming I breathe every third stroke but I'm really bad about not breathing into or out of the turns (i.e., I breathe right before the turn and then have to take two breaths immediately out of the turn since I feel so desperate to breathe). Is this just a mental thing I need to overcome? If so, any advice on how I can get over it?
Thanks in advance for any help. Let me know if I can provide any further info to explain the issue.
What I try to do is forcefully exhale on the last 2-3 breaths before the wall. The accumulation of CO2 in your system is what creates the urge to breathe, not the lack of oxygen per se. Forcefully exhaling can help clear or reduce the CO2.
After turning, I then try to slowly exhale as I streamline and the kick off the wall, rather than holding my breath, which at least for me helps hold off the urge to breathe.
Another thing, which might seem a bit too obvious, is that it's easier the faster I'm swimming.
Like anything else, the more consistently you work on it in practice, the more comfortable it becomes.
What I try to do is forcefully exhale on the last 2-3 breaths before the wall. The accumulation of CO2 in your system is what creates the urge to breathe, not the lack of oxygen per se. Forcefully exhaling can help clear or reduce the CO2.
After turning, I then try to slowly exhale as I streamline and the kick off the wall, rather than holding my breath, which at least for me helps hold off the urge to breathe.
Another thing, which might seem a bit too obvious, is that it's easier the faster I'm swimming.
Like anything else, the more consistently you work on it in practice, the more comfortable it becomes.
