Running out of gas....

Can you post a video? It may be that breath control is an issue. Is there dizziness, in which case it could be an inner ear issue. 

Thanks for the response, Allen.  Glad to say I have no dizziness.  Probably breath control, like you said.  t doesn't help that I train in a 20 yard pool; seems like I am doing a flip turn before I know it.  I will get a video posted.

It depends what your goals are. Flip turns are not a requirement and can sometimes be slower because of the complex movement or breath control. I would keep trying them and work on your breathing in and out of the wall as as as just practicing not letting too much air our during the flip. If doing open turns remains faster and more efficient, just do those. 

Thanks Kyle.  Seems like I am still exhaling when i turn my head to breathe.  Thanks for the advice and yes, I may be resorting to open arm turns.

3URXX,

I experience the same thing when I "forget" to exhale as forcefully as I should.  Like you, doing open turns eliminates the issue.

It is important to remember that the time it takes to do a flip turn is likely equivalent to 4-6 strokes without a breath.  I count the turn itself as two strokes and a nice long push-off (past the flags) as another 2.  If you are holding your breathe for 2 strokes into a turn and for 1-2 strokes after surfacing, you are going a long time without breathing.  That pushes the CO2 levels pretty high creating the awful feeling you experience.

As Kyle mentioned and I have found at our age, open turns might not be all that slower than flip turns - especially if we can swim harder between the walls.

good Luck!

Thanks Windrath.  I started doing a set of 50's, 25 free down, no breath on last two strokes, flip turning into a breaststroke pull out.  Seems to help some.  Thanks for the reply

Problem solved.  As a youthful swimmer, I was taught to take two strokes after each flip turn prior to breathing.  While it is hard to get used to, I now take an immediate breath after the turn (usually at the flags) and presto, gassing out reduced tremendously.

That totally describes me as well.  I'm a 68 year old here who started masters swimming one year ago.  A couple of things I've been focusing on 1) improve my flip turn technique.  If I tumble too slow and extend my legs too late, it takes more energy and I spend more time under water.   Try this set to make your turns "efficient".   Do 12x50 starting mid pool doing two turn 50s with 5 to 10 seconds between each 50.    I've collected several good coaching tips on flip turns including arm positioning when starting the tumble,  extending my legs to meet the wall with feet apart, looking up (not at my feet) and finally bringing my arms to the streamline position as part of the process so they are already in place when I push off.    When I do it right,  I don't feel any urgency to breath at breakout which is probably what you feel after a few hundred.   Still a work in progress here too :-)