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
Former Member
Another benefit to flip turns is the stretch it gives your back. This can really help you overall in your swimming (as well as running and cycling). Open turn swimmers tend to really tighten up, which lowers your overall distance capacity.
Most beginners also suffer from poor body position in the water. I believe that flip turns will help you to keep a more horizontal position. Concentrate on keeping the water line coming into the wall at the crown of your head. If you do the open turn, then the tendency is to raise your head which gives you an inefficient body position coming into the wall - your hips sink lower and you are pushing a lot of water coming into the wall. Even though you are training for open water swimming, you don't want to develop this type of body position.
One final thought, I did not like the advice you got earlier regarding sweeping the wall with the fingertips before flipping - you are way, way too close to the wall for this.
In practice today I turned too soon and it reminded me of the two worst feelings in swimming:
2) When, in a race you execute a flip turn and realize your feet are not touching the wall.:(
1) when swimming butterfly and you realize you took one too many strokes at the end of the pool:eek:
I have to touch the wall first and use it for leverage when flipping on backstroke, but I worry that I lose time. Does anyone have any suggestions on back flips without using your hand on the wall for leverage?
I bend forward at the waist (freestyle), but I haven't figured out how to bend backward at the waist.
Flipping for backstroke is now the same as flipping for front crawl. In USMS you are allowed to roll over from back to front as you approach the wall and then you can do a normal front flip, just make sure to push off on your back. The following is the USMS backstroke turn rule:
Backstroke 101.4.3—Turns
Upon completion of each length, some part of the swimmer must touch the wall. During the turn the shoulders may be turned past the vertical toward the ***, after which a continuous single arm pull or a continuous simultaneous double arm pull may be used to execute the turn. Once the body has left the position on the back, any kick or arm pull must be part of the continuous turning action. The swimmer must have returned to a position on the back upon leaving the wall.
Note: The swimmer who turns past vertical and, in a continuous motion, grabs the wall before pushing off with the feet while on the back is considered to have executed a “continuous turning action.”
