Flip turns

Rich, breaststrokers don't need flip-turns so you should just stop practicing. posted by Seagurl What about the new 50 free challenge between Blowfish and me? I know I suck in the 50 free and all...but hey, If he wants to do an open turn, then All power to him....LOL!!! Newmastersswimmer p.s. Nice 50 free time Warren ....especially considering you blew your turn...What I wouldn't do to go 21 or 22 again!!

Rich, breaststrokers don't need flip-turns so you should just stop practicing. posted by Seagurl What about the new 50 free challenge between Blowfish and me? I know I suck in the 50 free and all...but hey, If he wants to do an open turn, then All power to him....LOL!!! Newmastersswimmer p.s. Nice 50 free time Warren ....especially considering you blew your turn...What I wouldn't do to go 21 or 22 again!! I hope to be posting my "entry time" this evening. Open Turn.

Rich - I have no idea if this link has helpful or accurate info as I have never done a flip turn, but here 'tis: www.personal.psu.edu/.../FlipTurns.html This is from the same woman who gave us the 0 to 1650 plan. I'm planning on learning them too, but I think I'll wait until I visit my mom out of town and can be anonymous! There will be no photographic evidence. Seriously, though - if you practice them in the deep end first, you won't hit your head. Just a thought...

I had never done flip turns and tried a few about a month ago:rofl: :rofl: I didn't hit my head, barely reached the wall with my feet, ended up (lightly) pushing off the wall onto my side, and after several "turns", getting nauseous. I gave it up. At my stage, there are many other things that could increase my speed -- well, decrease my time to do the yardage --it wouldn't look anything like speed:shakeshead: I had not experienced that sick to my stomach feeling before, and didn't like it. Good luck Rich -- take care of that head.

I started doing crunches and leglifts every morning on my way to the shower. :joker: Is that like a "Goose-Step" LOL I'm sure that's not what you meant but my silly mental imaging process has me giggling.' I practiced tonight but did not hit my head. Objective 1 Achieved. I like the idea here too, thanks guys. I managed a couple of light push offs then di one where i intentionall ooked to see where my feet were. I got that right and then dit a half decent one, and got out. I've got my spot on the bottom picked out, and need to work on the turn and getting the hands to go where they supposed to.

Biggest mistake I see on flip turns is not using your arms correctly. Most people will leave them out to the sides and make a big circle rotation and alot of swimmers will just rely on their kick and core strength to get the over. The correct and easiest way is to flip the palms upright, catch the water and throw it up over your head as you turn. This leaves the arms in the raised position slightly behind the head so when you start to pushoff all you have to do is extend. When done correctly, it makes the turn almost effortless and will also speed you up.

My turns got a whole heck of a lot quicker when I started doing crunches and leglifts every morning on my way to the shower. As a side-effect of these crunches, I started developing Ande and Fort's washboard stomach. :joker: I saw that Muppet. :dedhorse: I just want to clarify for the record that Muppet puts me to shame. :banana: :bow: I do not have a washboard stomach. It is just OK, considering I had three kids in my 30s. That does tend to have a bit of an effect. I gotta start doing more crunches and cross-training so I can still wear a bikini next summer without undue embarassment. I cannot speak for Ande. I'm sure he has great abs. Plus, he's weighing himself to the .1 to ensure that. I never weigh myself. I just sorta hope the vessel is in a semblance of the right shape. Warren: I cannot believe you are doing open turns. You should be ashamed of yourself.

I wonder if I'm doing some old fashioned kind of freestyle flip turn. Looking at the pictures on swim.ee, and it appears that when the swimmers feet hit the wall, the swimmer is essentially on their back. I think when I hit the wall I have usually rotated towards my stomach although I'm still on my side. Should I be on my back and then rotate after or during the pushoff? Runner Girl, It depends on who you ask. I think a majority of coaches will tell you to be on your back. From the way you describe it, I think you and I do the same style turn. At push-off, my feet are about a 45-degree angle left of being 100% on my back, but my body has already started turning towards my stomach as i push. I use the torque of the rest of the rotation to power off the wall. I find that when I push off directly on my back, I have zero power. :banana:

Biggest mistake I see on flip turns is not using your arms correctly. Most people will leave them out to the sides and make a big circle rotation and alot of swimmers will just rely on their kick and core strength to get the over. The correct and easiest way is to flip the palms upright, catch the water and throw it up over your head as you turn. This leaves the arms in the raised position slightly behind the head so when you start to pushoff all you have to do is extend. When done correctly, it makes the turn almost effortless and will also speed you up. Thanks Jeff. That's exactly what I am going to get working on. I was concerned with distance from the wall last night and not smacking my pinkies on the deck.

I wonder if I'm doing some old fashioned kind of freestyle flip turn. Looking at the pictures on swim.ee, and it appears that when the swimmers feet hit the wall, the swimmer is essentially on their back. I think when I hit the wall I have usually rotated towards my stomach although I'm still on my side. Should I be on my back and then rotate after or during the pushoff?