How in the world do you approach the wall on the right side of the lane, flip, and depart on the other side without running into someone?
Up to this point, I guess have led a fairly charmed Masters Swimming life. On all the teams I've swum with, it was rare to circle swim. No more! I'm now swimming LCM with half a dozen others sharing the lane, which is great, but I can't flip turn now to save my life.
Normally, I come straight into the wall, flip straight over onto my back, come straight off the wall, and roll over in the streamline. That won't cut it in circle swim. How do you do it? I have to either lead the lane, and sneak over to the left coming into the wall, or go last and stay on the right.
What's the technique?
Former Member
I see others and sometimes find myself flipping and pushing off the wall diagonally underneath an approaching swimmer to the return side.
I've tried all the sneaking over stuff and often there isn't enough room. I guess I should try to roll a little left instead of straight over? That should be entertaining; I normally have to fight rolling right. That has the disadvantage of rolling straight into oncoming traffic. My Mom says I was a lefty when I was little, but back then it was standard to beat it out of you. Maybe I can nurture the lost Lefty within.
This is probably your best bet. I'm a righty, but I have always rolled to the left probably as a natural effect of circle swimming all through my age group days. Will take some work, I'm guessing. I'm not sure I could even roll to the right off of a turn.
This is probably your best bet. I'm a righty, but I have always rolled to the left probably as a natural effect of circle swimming all through my age group days. Will take some work, I'm guessing. I'm not sure I could even roll to the right off of a turn.
It's why we reverse circle at least one practice per week with our age group team. Which reminds me, gotta hit em with the first one, which causes ALL sorts of problems the first time.
I usually try to hit the wall dead center
This is my strategy, too. Turn at the center of the lane and angle off toward the lane line when pushing off. I can't recall the last time I came close to colliding with someone coming into the turn when I was coming out. I do, however, often impact the lane line with my right shoulder at my breakout.
Former Member
One thing to note, however, that in all this, it is VERY easy for a swimmer to get used to this and start circling during pool races and swim at a slight angle generally (which comes in particularly unuseful during open water races). On top of that, it also contributes to pushing off the wall at strange angles. Be mindful of trying to keep your proper technique.
So very true... 15 years+ of angling in before the turn and angling out on the pushoff makes me circle swim even in races where I have the lane all to myself!
Former Member
I am not sure why there is such a mystery -- the flip is done exactly in the middle of the lane - you come in on the right and go towards the middle on your last couple of strokes. Then you push off a little bit at an angle. I have never hit anybody who does it the same way.
The only problem are the "strange creatures" who turn way on the right and then try to make a dare devil cross-lane push-off - they have to be educated.
Former Member
Well, yeah. The problem, especially in a public lap swim, is that there are lots of those creatures.
I usually try to hit the wall dead center, turning slightly inward after the 5-yard marker and heading slightly outward after I kick off. That keeps me close to the lane ropes both coming and going.
On our team, we try to go 10 seconds apart unless we've got a lot of people in a lane. This gives folks plenty of room to do a proper flip turn with the minimal amount of angling. As described above is generally how we do it.
One thing to note, however, that in all this, it is VERY easy for a swimmer to get used to this and start circling during pool races and swim at a slight angle generally (which comes in particularly unuseful during open water races). On top of that, it also contributes to pushing off the wall at strange angles. Be mindful of trying to keep your proper technique.
As mentioned above, the 10 seconds we have between swimmers on my team allows us to turn in early, hit the wall head on and push off straight without compromising our technique.
even with only 2-3 secs between swimmers as you approach the wall, with your last 1-2 strokes you move to the left, and flip. your feet either land in themiddle or to the left of the middle. and push of to your new right leaving the lane clear for the next swimmer.
I have never had a problem with flip turns at practice.
two people swimming fly in opposite directions however is a problem
