Flip Turns

The only way to get comfortable with flip turns is to do them all the time. As soon as you get to the point where you're doing them without smashing your heels on the deck, make a commitment to do flip turns for the entire practice. Or, use a progressive schedule like every 4 turns one week, then every 3, etc. After a while they become completely natural and even a source of free speed.

I think a flip turn will always be more aerobically demanding than an open turn, but faster. When my arms are tired the short rest they get with a flipturn helps a lot. I have no underwater kick so my streamline is shorter than others who burn energy with a strong SDK. YMMV. I've seen some never-tried-a-flipturn swimmers learn quickly with these steps: Learn the somersault portion away from the wall so you don't worry about whacking your heels and misjudging walls at first. Find water about 4-1/2 feet deep where you can do a little push off the bottom. Do a full somersault at first landing on the bottom , then learn how to quit so you finish on your back still tucked. Simulate the wall pushoff by thrusting both legs. Try a somersault with your neck arched back/chin jutted out. It's almost impossible. Then try it with your chin tucked to your sternum. Note the difference. Master your air control just doing somersaults before you progress to full turns. Use a fast tight stomach crunch to initiate the somersault instead of flailing both arms around. So many beginners get the somersault done, have their feet on the wall, then have to re-orient to get their hands into position for a streamlined pushoff. Whether you do an open turn or flip, set a goal to do a great streamline every turn no matter how tired you are.

Do them ALWAYS & when you are tired the change will happen.

Thanks to all for the responses. I think I'm on my way to better flip turns!! :)

Started doing flip turns back in the fifties and always felt I was pretty good at doing them. Don't remember losing ground to anyone either in practice or in races (age group, high school, and college) --- usually it was just the opposite, I often beat swimmers who were a little bit faster but their turns weren't as good. But now I've started training again with the Maui Masters Swim Club and a thirtyish young lady who often ends up in the lane next to me beats me by almost 1/2 body length every turn! We're pretty even through the push off but then she throws in a few SDK's and it's adios. Dang! Guess we'll see if this old dog can learn a new trick.

Great !! Keep the good flips coming !:applaud::banana:

Thanks so much for all of the help!!! I realized I was flailing my arms like nkfrench suggested so I watched a couple videos and listened to some of everyone's tips. Anyway, went to a swim meet this weekend and had the best flips turns I have ever had. Still needs work but much improved! Thanks for all the help :)

Here is a playlist of 5 videos breaking down how to learn or improve on your flip turns. It is the best set of tips I have found. www.vizme.com/

I feel like mastering the flip turn is almost as involved as learning a new stroke. I agree that the Go Swim video series a few people have posted are a great start. They do an excellent job teaching the "flip" portion of the turn. But I haven't seen anything that goes into depth on the approach, foot position, push-off, and rotation after the turn. It took a few sessions with my coach to get those under control. Without my coach's help, I could practice all I wanted, but I didn't know what I needed to do differently. Open turns can be pretty fast. No one should feel embarrassed about using them. It took a long time for my flip turns to get faster than my open turns. I've never had any issues with flip turns as far as the turn and push off. I do struggle with oxygen deprivation at times so I am working on that. I'm always surprised how many people do open turns in the pool. and I mean pretty fast swimmers. I wonder if your feet are hitting too high on the wall. That was one of my (many) problems. It caused me to push off at a downward angle, so it took me a long time to get that first breath.

A bizarre tip I was given when learning turns was to "look for my feet", and I still do this now if my turn is going off for some reason. When they appear above you in the water then kick out. The chances are your feet are in the right position on the wall without even trying And yes, the coach didnt know why this worked either !