I'm training for my second triathlon - now that I know better and know what to expect I'm actually researching and trying to learn more and think this site is great! Thanks to everyone who provides their expertise.
I have a question about lap swimming though, I've never learned how to flip turn, so I get to the end turn around and come back. Two questions on that, does that affect my swim by not doing the flip turn? Guessing not much since there is no flip turning in open water...and second how could one learn to do a flip turn? Feel kinda foolish when even the grandma's are doing them and I can't :-[
Thanks!
Shirin
Parents
Former Member
Hi! I'd like to encourage you to keep attempting to learn to flip turn; flip turns are much more efficient than open turns, not only because they save time but also because they allow you to swim continuously without breaking your rhythm. You might find executing a flip turn is much easier if you do not think of it as any type of somersault. You do not want to roll your body; you want to flip your body. Come into the wall at a fast pace, (do not breath coming into the wall as it will cause you to lose too much momentum, and do not be afraid of hitting the wall; you won’t hit the wall because you should purposefully graze it with your fingertips at the longest part of your final stroke so you know exactly where the wall is and so you know that you are the perfect distance from it to begin your turn). Once you have grazed the wall, without pausing throw that outstretched arm down under your body toward your pelvis and fold your body in half at the waist so that your whole body flips, (you will not and should not be perfectly straight of course, your legs will be bent some, which is why so many bystanders mistake a flip turn for a somersault motion instead of a force movement). Your forward momentum will have carried you the slightest bit closer to the wall so that you can push off hard and effectively as you right yourself (not deep!) under the water. Unlike trying to right yourself after a somersault movement (when you have lost your momentum and your hands might be flailing everywhere), righten-ing yourself as you push off from a true flip will feel like a natural motion. Remember, speed, force, power. Good luck!
Hi! I'd like to encourage you to keep attempting to learn to flip turn; flip turns are much more efficient than open turns, not only because they save time but also because they allow you to swim continuously without breaking your rhythm. You might find executing a flip turn is much easier if you do not think of it as any type of somersault. You do not want to roll your body; you want to flip your body. Come into the wall at a fast pace, (do not breath coming into the wall as it will cause you to lose too much momentum, and do not be afraid of hitting the wall; you won’t hit the wall because you should purposefully graze it with your fingertips at the longest part of your final stroke so you know exactly where the wall is and so you know that you are the perfect distance from it to begin your turn). Once you have grazed the wall, without pausing throw that outstretched arm down under your body toward your pelvis and fold your body in half at the waist so that your whole body flips, (you will not and should not be perfectly straight of course, your legs will be bent some, which is why so many bystanders mistake a flip turn for a somersault motion instead of a force movement). Your forward momentum will have carried you the slightest bit closer to the wall so that you can push off hard and effectively as you right yourself (not deep!) under the water. Unlike trying to right yourself after a somersault movement (when you have lost your momentum and your hands might be flailing everywhere), righten-ing yourself as you push off from a true flip will feel like a natural motion. Remember, speed, force, power. Good luck!
