In the Olympics everyone does flip turns in the 1500m but I was wondering whether many ordinary mortals resort to open turn for longer distances in the pool? I think I am quicker flipping in a short distance race
but it feels as though as I am going slightly into oxygen debt, so I'm not sure they're beneficial over long distances. (I am experimenting but I don't do enough long distance races to have much data.)
I watched a lot of short course 1500s last weekend and even among the slower heats the vast majority of swimmers did flip turns on every turn. In a race with 59 turns, even a small increase in speed per turn adds up to a big decrease in overall race time.
I'm not an elite swimmer. That said, I opt for flip turns if at all possible. When I first tried postal swims I needed to do open turns after awhile, but once I got my wind back, switched back to flip turns. I suspect it depends mostly on your aerobic conditioning and the efficiency of your flip turns.
S
If you feel like you are going into oxygen debt on the turn, an open turn may be better for you. I recently did a best time (almost a lifetime best) in a 200 backstroke just streamlining off of the wall and popping up with no kicking in an effort to conserve oxygen. Oxygen is underrated.
I went 5sec faster than last year in SCM- 2:17. It was the first time I tried the walls that way, and I feel like it helped me.
That's a nice time! Good swimming!
I agree that in the 200 back, O2 management is important.
for most people flip turns are way faster than open turns so
if you care about your time
always FLIP your turns
also push off hard, streamline skinny, and glide far and fast
If your flip turns suck
do open turns
if you're not sure
have someone time you
in and out of the flags at your distance pace
first with a flip turn
next with an open turn
find out what your difference is then multiply it by the number of turns in your race
see which way is faster, mass moves much quicker through air than it does through water
also there's many slow ways to do open turns and a few fast
if you must do open turns, learn to turn faster so you waste less time
Former Member
If you feel like you are going into oxygen debt on the turn, an open turn may be better for you. I recently did a best time (almost a lifetime best) in a 200 backstroke just streamlining off of the wall and popping up with no kicking in an effort to conserve oxygen. Oxygen is underrated.
What was your time?
Former Member
I think it relates to aerobic capacity.
At USMS Nationals in Clovis in 2009, I lap-counted for Dave Radcliff in the 500 free. About half way, he started doing open turns. I was a bit worried (to say the least) that something was wrong, so I asked his wife. She said, "no, he just finds he needs and gets more air that way in the longer races". He went 6:05, BTW, which I believe was a national record for his age group.:bow:
Former Member
David Radcliff is scarily fast for someone his age! I guess I should follow Ande's suggestion and try get someone to time my turns.
