Flip Turns

What a great question! I was actually wondering about the whole "flip turn" deal last night during my swimming. However, because i am a new swimmer, i have already asked the poor people around me more questions then I think they ever wanted to answer.

So, it was great to get a step by step instruction guide. Thanks!! The questions one raised concerning the need for using flip turns in relation to a tri... i thought was a good question.

Best of Luck to all who are working on their flip turns.  - KB

I can help with this. I have taught hundreds of people, from 3 years old on up to PADI Dive Masters, all using the same basic approach. First, make sure that you are pretty comfortable doing somersaults in the water. Next, stand with your arms extended and fingertips just barely touching the wall and practice somersaulting close to the wall. When you are comfortable with that, move back to the flags and swim to the wall and somersault just before your fingertips touch the wall, just somersault as in the previous step. When confortable with swimming in and somersaulting, try swimming in, flipping and placing your feet on the wall as you come to a face up position. When you've got the foot thing down, try to swim in, flip, place feet and push off On YOUR BACK in a streamline position. When you can execute the pushoff and streamline on your back, you can add the turn over to your stomach and swimming. By far the easiset way to learn the flipturn is to break it down into steps, practice each step until comfortable, then move on to the next step. Good luck, let me know how it goes!

I did a search on learning flip turns and found this thread. Even though the thread is a couple of years old, the lessons are still valid.  I printed out the above advice, took it to the pool with me and NOW I CAN DO FLIP TURNS!  Thanks Hermom!

I've done this a few times.  The other thing is when I miss-gauge the distance and turn too early.  Then my push off hits nothing but water.  That has to be one of the weirdest feelings ever... to suddenly lose all momentum and just bob there in the water.

I get those every once and a while.  Don't push off hard.  I start my flip turn about half an arm stroke when I pass over the "T" in the swimming pool.  You don't want to flip too late.  That really hurts.

When I stretch, I sit with both of my soles touching as close to my body as possible and lean forward.  It works for me. 

http://www.goswim.tv/drilloftheweek_comments.php?id=979_0_20_0_C#

Hope this helps!

I have over the years learned to not push too hard off, and to not point my toe, otherwise I will get a calf cramp.  Stretching would probably be a good idea but I never take the time.

Flip turns may not be used in OWS but it seems like a good idea to get used to holding your breath a little bit longer while doing them.  Also, just like you probably dont wear a speedo (brief kind) because you look like a dork, doing flip turns in a pool is also pretty cool.  Plus you can just keep cranking and not lose momenteum.

I'm not going to try to describe a flip turn, others have above, but I would add that you want to try to stay on top of the water, I do an extra kick or two to stay up.  I also use my arms a bit by pushing  the opposite direction to help in turn over, I think.  I have been doing them for so long I cant think of how I actually do it.

I just wanted to let you all know that you jinxed me. I've been doing flipturns for over 15 years.  I've swam competitively for 10 of those years and I have NEVER hit my ankles, not even once, until yesterday! 

I came in too close, wasn't paying attention, and wacked both of my ankle bones on the top of the gutter!!!  And it's all your fault for putting the idea into my little brain!

Anyways...onto another flipturn tip. I noticed yesterday that I use my quads to push from the wall, rather than my calves and feet. If you come in at the right distance, your legs should be in the squat position, and your body sideways as you push off. Use the power in your quads/core to push off, rather than your feet. Your feet really have little to do with it at all.  Also, make sure your arms are under your torso, hands flat, and scooping the water towards your body as you turn, this rotates your body around faster. 

 thank you thank you thank you for this concise explanation.  I attempted my first flip turn last night.  It was not pretty   I really should have checked the lap swimmer behind me, because my aim was not great and I almost went headlong straight into her path.  I was going to dig around today for a flip turn thread and VoiLa... here it is. 

Back to the OP, you mentioned that you wanted to do flip-turns for a pool triathlon.

You might want to check the rules and see if flip-turns are allowed.  The sprint I'm doing next week does NOT allow them and says you will be disqualified.   

thank you thank you thank you for this concise explanation.  I attempted my first flip turn last night.  It was not pretty   I really should have checked the lap swimmer behind me, because my aim was not great and I almost went headlong straight into her path.  I was going to dig around today for a flip turn thread and VoiLa... here it is. 

Isn't it just so cool the way this works?!?!  I was trying to do the whole movement at once, rather than breaking it down step by step.  What a huge difference!  I also tried without success and after following these instructions, and an hour and a half of practice, I can do flip turns! They aren't pretty, but now that I know how to do them, I can make them better!