Open Water vs. Flip turns

RE: Open Water vs. Flip turns

orca1946 — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 06:27:57 GMT

Breath control will also help in the training. So flips would be good for you .

RE: Open Water vs. Flip turns

rtodd — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 06:21:40 GMT

If you are training for OW in a pool, open turns are out of the question.

RE: Open Water vs. Flip turns

Former Member — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 15:28:31 GMT

Yeah, I've been more of a sprinter doing intervals of distances never over 200 always doing flip turns. Not doing them makes me feel like a hack and seems like a cop out, especially since I tend to want to take an extra breath on an open turn. Since hanging on the wall for a second is not an option in open water I didn't know if I was getting proper training without them, especially with the much more difficult conditions. If I am wrong on the necessity of flip turns this makes it a lot easier. I gave up hypoxic breathing for the same reason - I just can't handle it and if I don't like it I'm not going to do it any more. I thought I would do a couple open water races for fun and fitness during the summer, go for some training swims while I'm at the beach. I don't know what I was thinking - now I'm swimming sets like 8 x 500 which is double yardage what I did in the pool season. Distance swimming is hard as hell. But I feel like I am in better shape than ever.

RE: Open Water vs. Flip turns

Former Member — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 15:39:34 GMT

Thanks for explaining. I did think one of the advantages of OW swimming is that I don't need to learn flip turns :)

RE: Open Water vs. Flip turns

Former Member — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 15:09:07 GMT

I'm a little confused: why would one need flip turns in open water?

RE: Open Water vs. Flip turns

srcoyote — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 10:43:17 GMT

I'm not convinced that training with flip turns vs. open turns makes a difference in training for open water swimming unless its mental. The biggest difference in open water swimming is that my shoulders never get a rest on the turn, but that is mitigated by the more regular breathing and rhythm I get when there are no turns. I'd do whatever turns you feel comfortable with. . . and if, like me, pool training is your only option, swimming long course makes for better open water preparation.

RE: Open Water vs. Flip turns

srcoyote — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 04:27:49 GMT

I think Herb is referring to pool training in preparation for open water swimming possibly thinking that in such training, flip turns are preferable.