The "touch and flip" is quicker. But it requires a lot of breath control, because you're underwater for about six seconds in the middle of a race. It's just as hard as doing dolphin kicks at the end of a backstroke race.
The only difficulty people have with it is doing it legally. Many turn beyond 90 degrees. But it's always a judgment call. Personally, I think the stroke judge needs to stand directly over you to determine if you're past vertical. Watching from the side is NOT an accurate viewpoint. But experienced stroke judges might think differently.
I learned how to do the IM turn in Colorado Springs, at 6,000 feet, so my lungs were prepared when I did it for the first time in a race.
I would advise you to find someone who knows how to do the turn to guide you through executing it step-by-step. There is a great process to learn it, but it would take a lot of explaining. Showing each step works better.
The "touch and flip" is quicker. But it requires a lot of breath control, because you're underwater for about six seconds in the middle of a race. It's just as hard as doing dolphin kicks at the end of a backstroke race.
The only difficulty people have with it is doing it legally. Many turn beyond 90 degrees. But it's always a judgment call. Personally, I think the stroke judge needs to stand directly over you to determine if you're past vertical. Watching from the side is NOT an accurate viewpoint. But experienced stroke judges might think differently.
I learned how to do the IM turn in Colorado Springs, at 6,000 feet, so my lungs were prepared when I did it for the first time in a race.
I would advise you to find someone who knows how to do the turn to guide you through executing it step-by-step. There is a great process to learn it, but it would take a lot of explaining. Showing each step works better.
