Recently I've forced myself to do flip turns in practice, hoping I'll get better/faster at them. My question is about hand position. Many years ago I'd use my hands to scull and help flip me over. Now, however, after some experimentation, I'm just using my torso and a dolphin kick to turn myself over. My hands stay in front of me the whole time as far as I can tell. This seems to put them in a streamlined position faster so I'm ready to push off faster. Back to the question part: Is/does this sound right? It feels faster, but I don't know if I'm missing something. Any help/suggestions is/are appreciated. Thanks.:wiggle:
FF - I've been taught more recently that the tumble should not be initiated by dolphin kick. The coaches have me coming into the wall in full stroke stride, and using my last stroke to initiate my turn. As I take that final pull, my head is already starting to look behind me - and all tumbling is coming from my core, putting all those situps to good use. I checked the video from my 500 at nationals, and the only dolphin kicks are SDK coming off the wall.
Now that is not to say the dolphin kick is incorrect. I think most of us learn that way - I know I did. Keep practicing your tumbling, and get your turns to where you can make the tumble initiation seamless and a continuation of your freestyle.
FF - I've been taught more recently that the tumble should not be initiated by dolphin kick. The coaches have me coming into the wall in full stroke stride, and using my last stroke to initiate my turn. As I take that final pull, my head is already starting to look behind me - and all tumbling is coming from my core, putting all those situps to good use. I checked the video from my 500 at nationals, and the only dolphin kicks are SDK coming off the wall.
Now that is not to say the dolphin kick is incorrect. I think most of us learn that way - I know I did. Keep practicing your tumbling, and get your turns to where you can make the tumble initiation seamless and a continuation of your freestyle.
