I will never race in a pool. If I race at all, it will be in open water.
I can do flip turns, but I don't think they are very good. When I do them, my head is directly under the backstroke flags when I take my first breath. With open turns, my head is about a length beyond the flags.
When I do flip turns, I notice a lot more cardio stress. I don't really recover until about half a length.
Is there a training benefit to doing flip turns in practice that will help me in open water? Does that second or two of holding my breath help me at all in terms of conditioning?
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Former Member
As aquageek mentioned, doing flip turns will improve your swimming overall- not to mention your lung capacity. Of course I have not seen your flip turn, but maybe if you planted your feet lower on the wall so that you are streamlining deeper you would be able to go further and get that same distance you get when you do open turns. If you do continue with open turns, just keep in mind the swimmer(s) who might be behind you. It can be frustrating for them if they are about to do a flip turn and the person in front of them does an open turn. It often forces them to slow down. Just thought I'd share that, as I am often a flip turner behind an open turner, or worse yet, a walk-to-the-wall-then-turner! Good luck with your swimming!
As aquageek mentioned, doing flip turns will improve your swimming overall- not to mention your lung capacity. Of course I have not seen your flip turn, but maybe if you planted your feet lower on the wall so that you are streamlining deeper you would be able to go further and get that same distance you get when you do open turns. If you do continue with open turns, just keep in mind the swimmer(s) who might be behind you. It can be frustrating for them if they are about to do a flip turn and the person in front of them does an open turn. It often forces them to slow down. Just thought I'd share that, as I am often a flip turner behind an open turner, or worse yet, a walk-to-the-wall-then-turner! Good luck with your swimming!
