So....here's the thing:
I'm actually getting decent at flipturns. I screw a few of them up, but I always know what I did wrong. The ratio of good flips to bad flips keeps going up. But, because there are usually some bad flips along the way, I haven't set any PRs yet when using flips. I'm at 1:25 100m with (some bad) flips, vs 1:22 with decent open-turns. My 50m is hi-39sec vice hi-38sec.
However....
When flipping, of course we are not breathing through the approach, turn, and pushoff. This is not a problem for me in a hard 50m/100m. But in a hard 400m, I'm dying, Man!! The accumulation of not breathing for this period every 25m has me GASPING after 200m. I crave that open-turn breath.
Maybe I will learn to handle this, but I dunno.
Even if you flip well, should you sometimes do open turns because of the oxygen situation?
Are flipturns for everyone?Short answer. No.
It really depends on your goals. A good flipturn will be faster than a good open turn, but if speed isn’t near the top of your goals then don’t bother with flips. Go ahead and practice them to see if you get better, but don’t fixate on the turns.
From a breathing perspective a flipturn gives you 1 less breath during the 3-5 seconds you are changing directions (6-8 seconds of you have a very good breakout). Depending on you distance per stroke and breathing pattern this can make a difference of about 9% to 15% less breaths.
Side note – if you are planning on doing open water swimming, I teach swimmers doing open turns to do them without taking a breath. Those who take a breath during an open turn have more problems maintaining regular breathing in open water.
Are flipturns for everyone?Short answer. No.
It really depends on your goals. A good flipturn will be faster than a good open turn, but if speed isn’t near the top of your goals then don’t bother with flips. Go ahead and practice them to see if you get better, but don’t fixate on the turns.
From a breathing perspective a flipturn gives you 1 less breath during the 3-5 seconds you are changing directions (6-8 seconds of you have a very good breakout). Depending on you distance per stroke and breathing pattern this can make a difference of about 9% to 15% less breaths.
Side note – if you are planning on doing open water swimming, I teach swimmers doing open turns to do them without taking a breath. Those who take a breath during an open turn have more problems maintaining regular breathing in open water.
