I am back with open turns (due to pregnancy) and I've been amazed at the overall efficiency I gain doing open turns vs the flips I've been practicing over the past few months.
I am rapidly coming to conclusion that open turns done correctly can give an overall faster time in a long event like 1500m. The reason that I think they are 'more efficient overall' over the flip turn is the following:
1. Oxygen/air: you don't run out of air in tank like in a flip, as the short breath taken at the end of the pool oxygenates the body fully for the next length, so you really can 'steam through' the distance.
With the flip on the other hand, I have to judge my breathing, seem to get that hypoxic 'restricted oxygen feel' now and again (even though this has improved) which raises my heart rate and by the end of 1500m, I'm in a type of oxygen debt feeling which is lung busting and quite frankly inefficient.
2. I can consistently push off the wall in an explosive fashion and then streamline for longer and even do dolphin over a longer distance 800-1500m as I have much more oxygen to play with.
With the flip you have to judge it every time to the wall and out of it and sometimes get it wrong and I certainly can't do dolphin with a flip - I'm gasping for air - even though my flip is executed really smoothly and speedily!
I agree that the 'execution' of the flip turn is faster (very slightly if any gain) than the open turn, BUT it's the gain in oxygen/air with the open turn that could gain a substantially faster time in distance swimming overall...
I am wondering what other's think of this.
Parents
Former Member
Every session I have swum (4 months) I have practiced every single turn as a flip with discipline (!) and have seen a marked improvement in my breath holding and it was a lot easier to hold the breath at race pace, which initially I could not do. Indeed I seem to be good at the flip and like learning and improving it, but I do still run into critical problems with it now and again:
I worry about what effect the restrictive oxygen is really doing for my health if it runs up my heart rate - it seems sometimes quite unnatural, even though I am good at them. If my heart rate rises and chest feels restricted then perhaps my blood pressure is rising too? - this could potentially lead to heart failure (?) and this kind of panics me a little when swimming.
I feel more comfortable therefore on the opens simply because they are seemingly more efficient for me (see last post by me) BUT I am not one to wimp out of flips forever either, not after all the work I have put into them. I think one of the problems is that I am a mega aerobic distance type and don't have an ounce of anaerobic capacity in me, so struggle on this aspect.
Perhaps it really is down to pure practice as you say - I do hope so - if so, roll on 9 months or so!
(As to the pregnancy and doing flips - I have personally decided to stop the flips just in case the hypoxic state does agitate the fetus - I know some of you continued doing them, - I admire you, but for me I can wait 9 months).
Thanks for your replies.
Every session I have swum (4 months) I have practiced every single turn as a flip with discipline (!) and have seen a marked improvement in my breath holding and it was a lot easier to hold the breath at race pace, which initially I could not do. Indeed I seem to be good at the flip and like learning and improving it, but I do still run into critical problems with it now and again:
I worry about what effect the restrictive oxygen is really doing for my health if it runs up my heart rate - it seems sometimes quite unnatural, even though I am good at them. If my heart rate rises and chest feels restricted then perhaps my blood pressure is rising too? - this could potentially lead to heart failure (?) and this kind of panics me a little when swimming.
I feel more comfortable therefore on the opens simply because they are seemingly more efficient for me (see last post by me) BUT I am not one to wimp out of flips forever either, not after all the work I have put into them. I think one of the problems is that I am a mega aerobic distance type and don't have an ounce of anaerobic capacity in me, so struggle on this aspect.
Perhaps it really is down to pure practice as you say - I do hope so - if so, roll on 9 months or so!
(As to the pregnancy and doing flips - I have personally decided to stop the flips just in case the hypoxic state does agitate the fetus - I know some of you continued doing them, - I admire you, but for me I can wait 9 months).
Thanks for your replies.
