Hello,
How do I learn to turn around (flip) at the end of my laps? I try to flip over and usually I can keep from getting water up my nose, but I always end up too deep in the pool. I need to make a more compact flip, but I don't know how. Help!
Thanks.
Former Member
I taught myself how to do flips when I was around 19 so it can give you my perspective.
First I practiced doing a plain ol' somersault in the water. You have to keep your body in a nice tuck to turn and the tighter your tuck is the weasier it will be to flip. As for the water going up the nose you need to remember to blow out it like crazy. Starting here with that will make it easier as it goes along.
Then I would do a somersualt right into the wall. Close enough that you could (but dont yet) put your feet in the wall but far enough that you don't hit you noggin or rear end.
Finally start putting those feet on the wall and pushing off (towards your stomach for free and towards your back for back).
I found that when I was learnign flip turns It took about 10 mintues of my workout each day just swimming from the flags to the wall and doing them over and over and over. Going too deep is a problem that will mend itself with regualr practice. It did for me.
I've been working on turns for over 2 years now and still I have a bad turn in almost every workout. But for every bad one there is like 15 good ones. It just takes practice adn time.
Good Luck!
Just a quick tip.....
Have you ever tried a flip in the middle of the pool just to get the feel for it? Standing in the shallow section, get a quick push off the bottom towards the deep end and glide. Using the momentum from the push and glide, try doing a flip without fear of crashing both of your heels on the gutter.
With practice, the feel of flipping over will become more comfortable and second nature. As mentioned in the earlier posts....keep that momentum while traveling towards the wall.
The key is in figuring out your timing requirement upon first sight of the T on the pool bottom, or cross mark on the wall,... whichever is your visual signal for the transition. Personally I look at the T as a reference point, then take a brief glance at the wall to see if its time to dig in for one more stroke, or just to simply glide in and flip. Timing is everything. Good luck.
I have found Emmett Hines' article "Slim and Darrell" to be most beneficial in learning flip turns.
www.h2oustonswims.org/.../home.html
Look in the articles section.
Practice, practice, practice.
Cheers!
Alot of swimmers make the mistake to turn before you flip. You have to flip first and make your turn under water. Here's what I do when I flip turn/or how to practice.
1. swim slowly toward the wall. Keep straight. Once you hit the T line, tuck your chin and use your arms to pull you into a somersault. Practice that a few times.
2. Once you feel comfortable with your somersaults, begin practicing the turn in your somersault. Remember your turn is after you tucked your chin and made the initial flip. You make initial your turn as your feet are hitting the wall. You straighten out your turn as you push off the wall.
3. Use those arms to pull you over in your flips. Your arms will help you position your feet against the wall. The more you use those arms, the more it will push you toward the wall.
Hope this helps a little.
My experience is that I need to accelerate (i.e., sprint) into the turn to get the momentum to carry my legs over -- If I swim slowly into the turn, I go over on my side.
