Approaching the wall to do flipturns [a momentum problem]
Former Member
So my 100 free SC time now is 1:01.5 approximately. I'm basing that off of my latest 100 free swim, which was LCM, but I used that swimmingworld conversation calculator which gave me the above figure. Last week, my coach had me do a timed 100 free off the wall at the end of practice. I clocked in at 1:02.5! So I'm very happy about all that.
I am having a slight problem though. As my technique improves and I get faster at actually swimming, I'm finding my flipturns are having a problem adjusting. When I do a set on like 90% or higher, and I flip around at the wall, it's like the momentum my body had established coming into the wall throws me off and I spend an eternity with my feet practically pasted to the wall while I get my balance back. In reality, the total amount of time wasted is probably only half a second at most, but you know, you guys are swimmers, you understand... that's an eternity in swimming! It's very frustrating when for the first 25 or 50 of a set, I can keep pace with some of the fastest people on my team, and then I get to the wall and I'm smeared, left floundering, while those fastest people just pinball right off. And this isn't an old problem... I have now been doing flipturns for over a year with no problem, but now they've become a problem (an opportunity?).
How do I accomplish a crisp, rapid flipturn without sacrificing any of my speed built going into the wall? Or is this just a sad fact of swimming I'm banging my head against... that all swimmers have to slow down just a tad before flipping? I don't wanna slow down! :(
I have a SC meet in a week. I'd like to fix this before then. What do you guys think?
Parents
Former Member
If you've only been doing flipturns a year, you're probably not going to be able to make significant changes in your turn in a week. Also, generally speeking, a week or so before a significant meet is not the best time to start changing your technique.
Couple general tips, you want to 'attack' the wall, and try to bouce off of it like a trampoline, energetic, fast and efficient.
I think you may be talking about the slight pause that happen when you plant your feet, before you push off. That may be a slight issue with rythm and timing, where you don't quite have your flipturn in one fluid movement.
There is an optimum between being too close and too far away from the wall when doing an efficient flitpurn. Too far, and you won't get a good pushoff, too close, and you may spend too much time 'on the wall'.
How close to the wall you want to get may depend on you overall speed and strength. Some people, with really strong pushoff can gain speed off the wall, while others can lose it.
It may be a bit hard to give you more specific advice without seeing what you're actually doing. Are you working with a coach, or someone who can look at or film your flipturns>
If you've only been doing flipturns a year, you're probably not going to be able to make significant changes in your turn in a week. Also, generally speeking, a week or so before a significant meet is not the best time to start changing your technique.
Couple general tips, you want to 'attack' the wall, and try to bouce off of it like a trampoline, energetic, fast and efficient.
I think you may be talking about the slight pause that happen when you plant your feet, before you push off. That may be a slight issue with rythm and timing, where you don't quite have your flipturn in one fluid movement.
There is an optimum between being too close and too far away from the wall when doing an efficient flitpurn. Too far, and you won't get a good pushoff, too close, and you may spend too much time 'on the wall'.
How close to the wall you want to get may depend on you overall speed and strength. Some people, with really strong pushoff can gain speed off the wall, while others can lose it.
It may be a bit hard to give you more specific advice without seeing what you're actually doing. Are you working with a coach, or someone who can look at or film your flipturns>
