Hello, I'm new here. Finally gave in and decided to turn to the internet for help. I don't even know if I'm supposed to post this here or not, please delete/move it if it's in the wrong place. I'm a bit embarrassed as this is going to seem like a stupid question to most of you...but how exactly do you do an underwater somersault? Yes, I'm 27 and never even learned. I've been taking swimming lessons over the past few years, trying to get caught up. My front crawl and breaststroke, while no where near the skill level of most of you, have nonetheless improved greatly, which I am happy about. For the past few weeks, my class has started to learn the flip turn. However, I cannot even do a basic somersault. Everyone else in the class picked it up instantly, no problems whatsoever. But me, I'm the only one in the class who can't even do a simple underwater somersault. I've been practicing over and over, but no luck. Is it something that you either can or can't do? I've heard that some people can't float no matter what...is that also true for somersaults? I'm at my wits end and am really getting frustrated with this, after all this practicing it seems like I should be seeing some results by now.
Is there some kind of drill or routine I can do with a flotation device to help flip under the water? Is there a shortcut or way to break the motion down into parts? I can't seem to make my body go all the way around, instead, I get pulled back up by the water and end up looking like an idiot. My teacher is great but she can't help me with the flip, she's got a full class to teach and so I basically have been told to work this out on my own. Which I've been trying to do for the past few weeks but have failed as of yet. Well. At this point any advice at all would be helpful, thanks in advance. Sorry if I seem angry, I've just about had it, weeks of practice and no luck.
Movements in water are slightly different from movements on land.
(OK, stop laughing...)
Here's an idea: Don't think of it as leading with the head. Instead, try to get head and upper body out of the picture - tuck head down on chest - and throw the hips toward the far wall.
If you don't get your hips over your head and just beyond, you'll never get over.
Hips.
Here's a good place to start: YouTube- ‪Swimming - Turns - Freestyle Flip Turn Step #1‬
GoSwim offers a sequence of individual lessons on learning flip turns. Good luck.
Former Member
make sure you tuck in your chin. somersaults are very difficult otherwise.
make sure you tuck in your chin. somersaults are very difficult otherwise.
A couple of other thoughts:
* Try tucking your body a bit more. If you watch the video above, you'll see that the people who were more successful with the drill tended to have a tighter tuck.
* Make sure your stomach muscles are ready for this. A friend of mine went back to swimming after a long period away and said she had to do sit-ups until she could do her turns right. Note that the video mentions you are turning with your stomach muscles.
Paddle, I learned how to flip turn at the age of 42, so you're never too old to learn. A year later, I'm still working on the fine points, but I can't imagine swiming backstroke now without using flip turns.
I definitely agree that the Go Swim video sequence is a good place to start. Those videos were a huge help to me when I was learning.
I personally find it almost impossible to do a somersault from a standing position (mostly because I'm very tall and the pool I use is fairly shallow). What I found most helpful at first was to just float facedown in the water, arms at my sides, with a pull bouy in each hand. Kick forward to give yourself some momentum, then pull yourself into a tight tuck and roll forward. Keep your chin tucked to your chest and think of trying to pull your knees to your nose. The tighter you tuck, the faster you turn.
IIRC, somersaulting with pull bouys is the second step in the video sequence--the first recommended step is to somersault with a pool noodle, but I found it easier to start with the pull bouys. Your mileage may vary. Once I had the hang of somersaulting (it really is a matter of just "getting the feel" of turning over in the water), I used the noodle to practice turning with a tighter tuck.
I also HIGHLY recommend a nose clip when you're first learning. This prevents you from getting a nose full of water. Eventually you'll learn to scrunch your face a little and blow air out through your nose when you turn.
I also suggest working with someone else with you in the water, someone who can help "spot" you and make sure you're turning straight forward (and not angling off to one side or the other). Another student in my master's class helped me--we were both learning at the same time, and as well as the practical help of just having someone to check your form, it's really a great source of moral support. If possible, try to pick a time when your pool is quiet and there's not a zillion people in the water.
Once you get the somersault down, practice swimming into the wall and doing your somersault there. The videos offer very nice step-by-step instructions for getting from a somersault to a flip turn.
One thing to remember: it takes a LOT of patience and practice. Even a year later, I have times when my flip turns just don't "happen," for one reason or another, and it helps to go back to those videos and review the basics. Don't let yourself get discouraged!
Good luck!
Former Member
It is something that you definitely can learn to do. The only drill that I can remember when I learned is standing in a shallower part of the pool and trying to do a somersault from a standing position. You will have to use your arms to help you turn which ideally you won't have to when doing a flip turn.
Go Swim has a 5 part youtube video series on how to do a flip turn that you can watch. The first segment is here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=YFQpLyihI5M
It is very hard to explain how to do a flip turn but it is easier the faster you are swimming. If you have lots of forward momentum you can use it to flip your body over. Good luck and don't give up.
edit: debaru beat me with the link. I have watched it before when trying to help a friend learn how to do a flip turn and I think it is pretty well done.
Former Member
Thanks for the link, that video looks very helpful. So the main issue for me is getting my hips over my head. I'll try it out with a noodle next time.
Paddle,
The 2 critical keys here are:
1 - Chin to chest and keep it there thru the entire movement
2 - forehead to knees. After putting your chin to your chest you want to make the somersault by trying to bring your forehead to your knees and not your knees to your forehead.
And don't forget to forcefully blow air thru your nose!!!!!!!!!!!
All the above & use the hands by having palms to bottom of the pool & back by your hips, then as you flip - pull they quickly forward & towards your face.
