I've been swimming since I was 2 (I lived in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, everyone is a swimmer there), and even though I had a break for a few years due to lack of an affordable pool nearby (ah, the wonders of living in NYC), everything for me is still quite natural, including flip turns. However, I always notice people doing them differently.
I, for one, turn myself over while flipping, so when I come off the wall I'm already to my side almost on my stomach, that's the way I learned and how I remember everyone else did it as well, but I've seen quite a few people doing a complete flip, coming off the wall on their backs then turning to their stomachs.
So, I'm curious, what is your flip turn style?
Parents
Former Member
After I flip and my feet hit the wall, I am on my back. I use the push off to get a little twist, and I rotate to the side I will breathe on (my right side, a 90 degree turn.) I do one pull with my right arm when I start to lose momentum under water, then I break the surface, take a breath and start recovering my right arm and pulling with my left. And off I go! (This generally gets me at least one body length past the backstroke flags.)
I used to rotate as I flipped. That was the standard method in the 70s when I was swimming as a kid. I find that takes longer to flip. But I also find that when I am tired and getting sloppy, I do some rotation on the flip. When I do that, I end up hitting the wall much deeper with my feet, and I can't imagine that being a better thing.
After I flip and my feet hit the wall, I am on my back. I use the push off to get a little twist, and I rotate to the side I will breathe on (my right side, a 90 degree turn.) I do one pull with my right arm when I start to lose momentum under water, then I break the surface, take a breath and start recovering my right arm and pulling with my left. And off I go! (This generally gets me at least one body length past the backstroke flags.)
I used to rotate as I flipped. That was the standard method in the 70s when I was swimming as a kid. I find that takes longer to flip. But I also find that when I am tired and getting sloppy, I do some rotation on the flip. When I do that, I end up hitting the wall much deeper with my feet, and I can't imagine that being a better thing.
