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.
Wow, thanks for all the replies and suggestions! I really appreciate the input. I'll try to answer everyone's questions and respond to the feedback.
I'm 45yo, and I try to swim at least four times per week. I swim on my own (haven't found a masters program in my area) and I use Swamplan.com to get workouts; although having recently gotten back into swimming after taking about six months off I'm doing one workout of 1800 yards that is mostly 100 yard sets. Right now, my 100 time is 1:25 but I'd like to get that down to between 1:15 - 1:20 consistently. Also, my endurance isn't what it used to be so eventually I plan to add longer distances and get back to being able to do 500 yard sets (with a goal time of around 6:30). I could probably do 500 yards now but my time would probably be quite awful.
As for the input and suggestions on going in and out of my turns, I'm going to try breathing a few strokes into the wall and not holding my breath for the duration of my streamline, but rather slowly exhaling so to reduce my CO2 levels. I'm going to the pool today so I'll let y'all know how that goes.
Also, currently I breathe every third stroke but sometimes go 4-5 strokes between breaths (I'll focus on my form and kind of forget to breathe), which is why I was wondering if my issues with flip turns are more mental than anything else.
Lastly, I'll try to get a video of my turns and post them here. Thanks for the suggestion! And yes, if I can find a coach or someone to work with me 1:1, that would be great!
Cheers!
Wow, thanks for all the replies and suggestions! I really appreciate the input. I'll try to answer everyone's questions and respond to the feedback.
I'm 45yo, and I try to swim at least four times per week. I swim on my own (haven't found a masters program in my area) and I use Swamplan.com to get workouts; although having recently gotten back into swimming after taking about six months off I'm doing one workout of 1800 yards that is mostly 100 yard sets. Right now, my 100 time is 1:25 but I'd like to get that down to between 1:15 - 1:20 consistently. Also, my endurance isn't what it used to be so eventually I plan to add longer distances and get back to being able to do 500 yard sets (with a goal time of around 6:30). I could probably do 500 yards now but my time would probably be quite awful.
As for the input and suggestions on going in and out of my turns, I'm going to try breathing a few strokes into the wall and not holding my breath for the duration of my streamline, but rather slowly exhaling so to reduce my CO2 levels. I'm going to the pool today so I'll let y'all know how that goes.
Also, currently I breathe every third stroke but sometimes go 4-5 strokes between breaths (I'll focus on my form and kind of forget to breathe), which is why I was wondering if my issues with flip turns are more mental than anything else.
Lastly, I'll try to get a video of my turns and post them here. Thanks for the suggestion! And yes, if I can find a coach or someone to work with me 1:1, that would be great!
Cheers!
