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?
I'm definitely faster flipping, and always do so on 50's and 100's, but on longer distances I need to throw in some open turns occasionally to get air.
Actually, I seem to get a stronger push off and better dolphin kicks when doing open turns, something I think carries over from all the butterfly I swim. I'm working on coming off the wall better when flipping, but it's still a work in process.
I'm definitely faster flipping, and always do so on 50's and 100's, but on longer distances I need to throw in some open turns occasionally to get air.
Actually, I seem to get a stronger push off and better dolphin kicks when doing open turns, something I think carries over from all the butterfly I swim. I'm working on coming off the wall better when flipping, but it's still a work in process.
