Flip turn help please

never done 'em, never will

Since most if not all of my races are in open water, I'd rather spend my "swimming" time swimming and not trying to learn flip turns -- I need all the swimming training I can get

I agree. All of my time is spent working on form, and I won't be racing in a pool. I have very limited time to train, so I can't allocate any of it to a skill that I won't use. But they do look cool though. :-)

Thanks for the advice guys. I'll be getting busy with it.

As for the "never used them, never will" crowd.......first of all, I do have races with pool swims, and in such short races, (the swims are usually 300-500 yards/meters) ANY time I save is greatly appreciated, secondly, I know that being more able to "swim like a swimmer" will greatly aid me in understanding the nuances of swimming, and swimming is a very nuanced sport. I'll probably never be a front-of-the-pack swimmer, but I can train like they do.

Additionally,  the ability to keep going without that extra breath/rest at the end of each lap that open turns allow will serve me in open water, and help me to not panic when I get dunked swimming in a crowd, or by a wave. Also, the ability to keep proper body position, and to get back into proper alignment quickly after a turn. Lastly, if I can actually get faster and save a few seconds on each 100, then I have more time to train. The faster I a can get, the more volume I can cram into the limited pool time I do have.;-p

I liken it to having good pack-riding skills on the bike. I won't directly use the skill in a triathlon, but having the skill makes me a better all-around cyclist. I will be riding on a course with others, and knowing how other cyclists handle (on mishandle) their bikes can keep me out of trouble.

Like tbill said we (triathletes and beginners) tend to train and blend with non-triathletes, swimmers, cyclist and runners.

I compare the flips with drafting, is not necessary, and for me is like cheating, but if we don't want to be or feel left out of a pack/group sometime you gotta do it...

Also it's like intervals on a track, this is completely different from the run portion of a triathlon, but sometimes you have to do it, for different reasons.

BTW: look at my signature, I started to learn the flips two weeks ago, because my coach said, that I'm cheating, taking a couple of breath not doing the flip (open turns), basically the flip will help me to control my breath for the open water swim.  What I will do when I learn it completely is not to push too hard, just a bit, because the main purpose of it, for me, is to control my breath not gain time.

My .02 cents.