General Discussion Triathlon Talk » the 99%...flip turns Rss Feed  
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2012-03-02 2:45 PM

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Subject: the 99%...flip turns

Let's not let this thread get into the discussion of the merits of flip turns for triathletes.  There are plenty of other threads about that.

This morning I tried my first flip turn.  I tried it several times.  It was both easier and harder than I expected.  The flip part was easy enough for me.  I was able to time my flip so that my feet hit the wall with the appropriate knee flex for a good push off.  After 2 or 3 tries, I was even able to control how shallow or deep I came off the wall.  That's where it started to fall apart.

After I was heading back the other direction (facing up instead of down) I really didn't know how to get flipped over correctly.  Every time I twisted around so that I was facing down, I lost all momentum and I was at around 45 degrees in the water (feet/hips dropping very low).

Any tips to control this part of the flip turn?



2012-03-02 2:59 PM
in reply to: #4077697

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Subject: RE: the 99%...flip turns

Start twisting from the time you push off the wall and don't forget to kick.  Kicking will keep your forward progress while you float back to the surface. 

Also, you  really don't nee to twist all the way back over.  Considering you will be pulling one arm out once you break the surface you only need to be twisted so you are facing one of the walls, not the bottom of the pool. 

2012-03-02 3:04 PM
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Subject: RE: the 99%...flip turns
Hopefully I can explain this correctly. Half your rotation should be complete before you push off the wall, your shoulders should be perpendicular to the bottom of the pool before pushing off. Once you push off you can complete the full rotation to face down before you surface. If you are loosing momentum you may be surfacing too early, but generally I will do 1 or 2 dolphin kicks to extend the momentum off the wall in stream line position.
2012-03-02 3:06 PM
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Subject: RE: the 99%...flip turns
You don't really need to do flip turns. 
2012-03-02 3:07 PM
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Subject: RE: the 99%...flip turns

Left Brain - 2012-03-02 3:06 PM You don't really need to do flip turns. 

Innocent

2012-03-02 3:35 PM
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Subject: RE: the 99%...flip turns
michael_runs - 2012-03-02 1:45 PM

Let's not let this thread get into the discussion of the merits of flip turns for triathletes.  There are plenty of other threads about that.

This morning I tried my first flip turn.  I tried it several times.  It was both easier and harder than I expected.  The flip part was easy enough for me.  I was able to time my flip so that my feet hit the wall with the appropriate knee flex for a good push off.  After 2 or 3 tries, I was even able to control how shallow or deep I came off the wall.  That's where it started to fall apart.

After I was heading back the other direction (facing up instead of down) I really didn't know how to get flipped over correctly.  Every time I twisted around so that I was facing down, I lost all momentum and I was at around 45 degrees in the water (feet/hips dropping very low).

Any tips to control this part of the flip turn?



Congrats, you got the hardest part down.

Think about hitting the wall with your feet at 11 or 1 oclock. Turning too much during the flip will slow you down, but somewhere you need to get a little torque. If you want to keep your flip turns smooth, practice your newfound flip pushing off belly up just to work on timing and smoothness.

As Coach Dave Cameron says...a flip turn is one turn, not two. Most of the rotation is done after you push off the wall.


Edited by AdventureBear 2012-03-02 3:36 PM


2012-03-02 4:49 PM
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Subject: RE: the 99%...flip turns
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dWVTnPGIm9Y&feature=youtube_gdata_pl... I found a video illustrating what I was trying to explain above. DISCLAIMER I am to a swim instructor or coach so take my advice with a grain of salt.
2012-03-02 5:09 PM
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Subject: RE: the 99%...flip turns

superjorge1 - 2012-03-02 4:04 PM Hopefully I can explain this correctly. Half your rotation should be complete before you push off the wall, your shoulders should be perpendicular to the bottom of the pool before pushing off. Once you push off you can complete the full rotation to face down before you surface. If you are loosing momentum you may be surfacing too early, but generally I will do 1 or 2 dolphin kicks to extend the momentum off the wall in stream line position.

I disagree with the bold part.  If we're discussing how to do a flip turn as efficiently as possible, your feet should be planted on the wall with only a small amount of rotation (some coaches even say no rotation).  Pushing off should initiate the roll.  Make sure you are in a tight streamlined position as you push off and during kicking.  By the time you surface (at least 5 yards off the wall), you've rotated back into your normal swimming posture.

ETA:  It's difficult to see in the video you posted, because Ian Thorpe is so fast, but he's actually doing what I describe above, planting his feet at a slight angle, and beginning to twist as he pushes off.



Edited by TriMyBest 2012-03-02 5:15 PM
2012-03-02 5:11 PM
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Subject: RE: the 99%...flip turns
Oh no, not flip turns!!
2012-03-02 6:29 PM
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Subject: RE: the 99%...flip turns
TriMyBest - 2012-03-02 4:09 PM

superjorge1 - 2012-03-02 4:04 PM Hopefully I can explain this correctly. Half your rotation should be complete before you push off the wall, your shoulders should be perpendicular to the bottom of the pool before pushing off. Once you push off you can complete the full rotation to face down before you surface. If you are loosing momentum you may be surfacing too early, but generally I will do 1 or 2 dolphin kicks to extend the momentum off the wall in stream line position.

I disagree with the bold part.  If we're discussing how to do a flip turn as efficiently as possible, your feet should be planted on the wall with only a small amount of rotation (some coaches even say no rotation).  Pushing off should initiate the roll.  Make sure you are in a tight streamlined position as you push off and during kicking.  By the time you surface (at least 5 yards off the wall), you've rotated back into your normal swimming posture.

ETA:  It's difficult to see in the video you posted, because Ian Thorpe is so fast, but he's actually doing what I describe above, planting his feet at a slight angle, and beginning to twist as he pushes off.

Watch the last :14 of the video.

2012-03-02 6:41 PM
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Subject: RE: the 99%...flip turns
shower before entering the pool...


2012-03-02 6:58 PM
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Subject: RE: the 99%...flip turns

superjorge1 - 2012-03-02 4:04 PM Hopefully I can explain this correctly. Half your rotation should be complete before you push off the wall, your shoulders should be perpendicular to the bottom of the pool before pushing off. Once you push off you can complete the full rotation to face down before you surface. If you are loosing momentum you may be surfacing too early, but generally I will do 1 or 2 dolphin kicks to extend the momentum off the wall in stream line position.

This sounds similar to what I was told by someone who was a coach for college and highschool.  Also told me that my hands should be over my head or something.  Glad in another month and a half I can swim in a lake.

2012-03-03 7:58 AM
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Subject: RE: the 99%...flip turns
TriMyBest - 2012-03-03 7:09 AM

superjorge1 - 2012-03-02 4:04 PM Hopefully I can explain this correctly. Half your rotation should be complete before you push off the wall, your shoulders should be perpendicular to the bottom of the pool before pushing off. Once you push off you can complete the full rotation to face down before you surface. If you are loosing momentum you may be surfacing too early, but generally I will do 1 or 2 dolphin kicks to extend the momentum off the wall in stream line position.

I disagree with the bold part.  If we're discussing how to do a flip turn as efficiently as possible, your feet should be planted on the wall with only a small amount of rotation (some coaches even say no rotation).  Pushing off should initiate the roll.  Make sure you are in a tight streamlined position as you push off and during kicking.  By the time you surface (at least 5 yards off the wall), you've rotated back into your normal swimming posture.

ETA:  It's difficult to see in the video you posted, because Ian Thorpe is so fast, but he's actually doing what I describe above, planting his feet at a slight angle, and beginning to twist as he pushes off.

This is exactly right. If you have momentum coming off the wall and streamline, initiating any rotation of the body on the lengthwise axis will put you nicely on your stomach again.

2012-03-03 10:39 AM
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Subject: RE: the 99%...flip turns
I can flip okay but get out of breath before I come back up completely. I have a lot of other problems to fix, so it's not a priority, but I would like to be able to do it.
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