I might be wrong about this, but I think that when I watched the Pan Pacs Women's 200 IM, I noticed that Katie Hoff did the touch and Whitney Myers did the flip. I took that to mean that which is faster is an individual thing. But maybe I'm not remembering right anyway, which would make this a useless post. If so, I'm sorry!
(If I do a track start I put my left foot first too. Do you?)
I don't do a track start, but I would put my left foot forward. I'm left handed and footed, though.
I think the spin turn, like the old backstroke "bucket turn," is pretty fast. For some reason I can only do it well when I touch with my left hand, though :)
I can't seem to pull off the flip turn without seemingly risking my life so I spin turn, either hand works as well as the other.
I watched Pan Pac's and there didn't seem to be much of a difference between the two turn types at least from a speed aspect. Maybe a little faster with the flip but much less AIR.:eek:
I'm right handed, right foot forward for the track start (my hips are higher for it upon entry compared to a grab start).
I might be wrong about this, but I think that when I watched the Pan Pacs Women's 200 IM, I noticed that Katie Hoff did the touch and Whitney Myers did the flip. I took that to mean that which is faster is an individual thing. But maybe I'm not remembering right anyway, which would make this a useless post. If so, I'm sorry!
No post is a useless post! you are right, I have been watching some IM races from Pan Pacs and Athens, and it seemed that the women's preferences varied, but majority of males did the flip. It seems to just be preference.
There's a video showing both turns side by side at the link below. Scroll down to the "IM" section and watch "back-***-turn-for-women". Unlike swim.ee, the server at this site is fast enough to stream them, so you don't have to download each one.
www.online1966.com/all.asp
I flip in the 100 and gauge it in the 200 - if I need oxygen I skip it. I actually finish back like a backstroke finish/end of the race and use the dive down to leverage myself into the backflip. (sidenote: I did gymnastics for several years so I think this helped me) I was shown it and able to do it immediately, but I think I'm the exception. I am the only one on my team that does it that way ...
There's a video showing both turns side by side at the link below. Scroll down to the "IM" section and watch "back-***-turn-for-women". Unlike swim.ee, the server at this site is fast enough to stream them, so you don't have to download each one.
www.online1966.com/all.asp
what a great site! thanks, bill! :groovy:
