How to Control Which Side to Turn to in Flip Turn?

I think that state of the art flips begin with your feet going straight over your head. Then, with vigor, pushing off on your back as you gently roll over to your stomach. Pick your side on which to roll. I am to lazy to change what I have done for decades. I float into the wall, staying as far away from the wall as I can (wouldn't want to swim furthur than necessary). I follow my right hand in a tumble. I have adjusted my strokes per lap to make it my right hand, at the expense of speed. My feet land shoulder width apart perpendicular to the bottom (or close to it). I push off rotating to belly down. Following my right hand means that I will be set up to push off to the left side of the pool for circle swimming. My turns are old school (slow). The rub comes when due to unforseen circumstances (a yahoo in my turning spot, exhaustion...) where I must follow my left hand, piviot in the other direction, push off without vigor, and almost slam into the swimmer behind me who is starting to exicute their turn. I doubt if this helps but it was fun for me to try and describe my turn.

i roll so that my left side is down, most swimmers do it that way some roll to their right swimmers pick a side and stick with it

I just started rolling CCW several weeks ago after rolling CW for almost 2 years (amount of time I've been swimming). Found it was more streamlined for me because it places less stress on the left shoulder and more on the right since my left shoulder has tissue damage from a former injury. I know this because it's faster and feels better.

Interesting! I have twisted to the right a little when turning into the wall, no matter which hand does the last stroke. Any possible tricks that can twist my body to the left or just keep me from twisting my body?

i roll so that my left side is down, most swimmers do it that way some roll to their right swimmers pick a side and stick with it I have been practicing flip turn for some while. All my turns are to my right side. I intentionally try to turn to the left but mostly fail. However I have seen many other swimmers turn to their left most of the time. I was wondering what are the critical points that control which side to turn to? I guess mastering this will help me to get a better feeling and balance under the water. Do you also think so? My turns are also always on the right side. Why do you think this is undesirable? I don't think it matters, use the side you are most comfortable with.

My first thought was also that it doesn't matter which side you turn to, but now I'm reconsidering. I modified my turns a little bit a few years ago when a coach pointed out that I should always take the first stroke off the wall with the arm that is towards the bottom of the pool. Since I turn to the left (left side down), this is always my left arm. Now I'm thinking that it might be better to take my first stroke with my right arm (dominant side), so that on laps with an odd number of strokes I get to use my stronger side more. If so, I should be turning to the right. I can tell that attempting to turn the other way will feel very odd. And it may wreak havoc on circle swimming for a while, as I doubt I'll come off the wall straight at first.

Have you tried control the turn by angling the head slightly (very slightly) to the left or right? I find I can dictate which way I turn through that technique. It is useful to turn both ways depending on clock or anti-clock laps. Left hand turning on a clockwise lap is really disorientating for me.

That must be why I always turn to the left: I have never circle-swum in a clockwise direction.

That's something I point out to my swimmers too. if both your hands are at your side you only have your kick left to move you fwd. it's the same thing with a backstroke turn. role over and follow your last arm through the turn. if you glide long enough so that both arms come to your side you risk being DSQ for being on your stomache for too long. It seems to me that if you follow your arm you don't get as complete a pull as if you make a full pull to get both hands to the side.Also if you follow your arm it seems to me to be easier to not come straight over on the flip.Am I missing something?

I breathe nearly every stroke to the right side but turn to the left. I think for me it became a habit, but it might be based on the fact that I don't care to have my left ear upwards. it feels like water gets in. I can start my flip turn with either arm, it doesn't effect which side I turn on.