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.
Lastly, I'll try to get a video of my turns and post them here.
That would be great. I have a feeling most people with good turns don't have a problem "running out of air" like you're experiencing. I'd go so far as saying many swimmers find short course swimming easier than long course because the turns provide a rest break. Perhaps you are exerting too much effort on your turns or your turns are quite slow. A video would confirm this.
Lastly, I'll try to get a video of my turns and post them here.
That would be great. I have a feeling most people with good turns don't have a problem "running out of air" like you're experiencing. I'd go so far as saying many swimmers find short course swimming easier than long course because the turns provide a rest break. Perhaps you are exerting too much effort on your turns or your turns are quite slow. A video would confirm this.
