When done properly, I think flip turns help keep a more consistent flow in the water.  Unless I time it right, I can be out of breath by the time I finish my turn though.  I mix it up a bit and do some open turns and flip turns.  Especially if I'm going long distance at a fast pace. 

Do what is comfortable to you.  If you are doing a 750M pool swim sprint it may help to get your open turns perfected. 

by the way, a 750M pool swim for a try is a long swim.  That will be interesting to see how organized that can be.

If you're doing a pool swim, I would say for sure learn to flip.

In general, it's useful in the pool because you maintain your momentum. Not really necessary for tri training but nice to have for general swimming.

The time it saves will depend on how smooth your flips are and that will take lots of practice. It will save time because, you will not have that stopping as you get to the wall, but also, if you think about it, you're actually swimming less of the pool.

Since the pro's flip, I am sure there are good times savings during a race in doing so. 

I asked a similar question on another thread. Of course, I only asked the question because I am already experienced with "flipping". It took me a lot of practice to get comfortable doing so.

The point was made to me on that thread that it's a more "efficient" swim training practice.

Meaning, I guess, that when one flips, they keep their heart rate up and it's a more continuous workout.

I'm brand new to swimming just this summer, and I mean BRAND new.  I started doing flip turns about a month ago and am glad I learned it.  The rhythm of the swim is SO much better IMO.  Anyway, I breath out my nose when I get to the wall and just before I flip.  Everything is a little awkward at first but within a week, I had it down and now its pretty natural.

I missed the water in the nose question.

What I do, is when I get near the wall, around the "T" mark on the bottom of the pool, I take a breath, regardless of when my last breath was (so not necessarily bilateral breathing right then). Then I take one more stroke (so that would be the arm on the same side I just breathed) and after that stroke, with both arms at my side I flip while breathing out my nose.

So you take the breath and then blow it out your nose during your flip. Then when you push off the wall you'll want more air. It will take practice not to blow out all your air during the flip and building up your lung capacity. 

Getting all the timing and distance to the wall is something that will be individual to you based on how tall you are. Trust me, eventually it becomes second nature!

I started swimming in June of this year and am pretty happy with my improvement so far.  I guess taking the time to learn to flip may help me keep a more constant pace.   Just another thing to throw into the list of thnigs to work on.

As for the tri, I was getting the impression that its not a snake swim but a wave start and you keep your own lane.  Its not until next June, but if I remember ill update on how it goes.

For me, the flip is on average 1 sec faster than my fastest open turn. If I'm not intentionally rushing through my open turns, it's nearly 1.5sec faster.

It's enough of a difference that in my local triathlon masters swim, I gain about 1 entire length for 7-8 lengths compared to an open turn swimmer at my speed. It's probably not ALL due to the open turn speed and not fitness, since to do those flip turns efficiently, you have to not be gasping for breath at the wall, but it's significant. 

It's a big enough deal for me than if I do a set of 10 x 200 or 20 x 100, if I don't flip turn, I can't even finish the workout at my target pace. (I set an aggressive pace.)

If you want to swim like a swimmer, yes. If you want to swim like a triathlete, I still recommend it, but it isn't necessary.

If you want to attend a master's swim practice, the definately yes!

I don't flip turn because water gets in my nose, and I can't stand the feeling of a nose clip.  What I've been told is that it doesn't necessarily help your speed because as you say, you don't do flip turns in OWS.  But what you get from flip turning is more non-stop swimming and therefore better fitness.

I should probably just HTFU and do the flip turns.

Masters swim - Yes

On your own - Do what you want

I say yes to Flip turns, I think it helps me out with my breathing.

I say no to flip turns in a pool triathlon, there is not enough room and usually will hit someone, plus changing lanes is never fun.

on the other hand

Don't do flip turns if you don't want too. I think it is a personal choice of what you feel comfortable doing.

You save about the time it takes you from you touch the wall with your hands till you push of. This can be 1 sec or as much as 5 sec. (if you do those "touch the wall, pass to the other side of the lane then push of"-turns).

You won't do flip turns in OWS but as has been mentioned it helps keeping your rhythm and pace in your practice. 

You don't swim less as has been mentioned: The distance "you don't swim" is your push off to your first stroke, the same regardless of which turn you do. OK, maybe you don't swim the last 50cm per length, so my 5000m workout becomes 4900m. But then you're faster so you can squeeze in more lengths in the same time.

You don't get water in the nose if you do it right: Take a breath on the second stroke before the wall, last stroke starts the flip. When you're half way through the flip you start breathing out slowly, that's easy because your stomach will be folded and pressing the air out.

As you push of you rotate into normal position - well, actually I rotate halfway even in the flip - so you don't need to blow out all the air. By your first or second stroke you can take a breath. Sometimes a good idea to hold it to the second or third stroke as there's a lot of waves near the wall when everybody does flip turns.

BR, Erik

Flips are good, but not absolutely necessary.  If you swim is in a 50m pool, it will be even less turns. 

I have been doing flip turns since I was a kid, so I can't help teach other than what was said.  As far as water up the nose, I also pucker my lips and sort of block off my nose with my upper lip.  My lips are big enough I can completely shut off my nose and not get water in.  If your lips are smaller, it may still give some resistance to keep from running out of air.  Not pretty, but it works.  I can swim 25 yards under water on my back if I so choose.

As far as nose clips, don't knock them.  I saw several Olympic swimmers use them.

Flip turns also train you on breath control.  Instead of getting a breath at the wall, you must hold your breath.  Learning to hold your breath a little longer while swimming is definitely an asset to both pool swimming and OWS.

Also, learning the skill of avoiding water up the nose will help you with both pool and OWS.  You will get water up the nose a few times but getting used to the feeling is a good thing because at some point, even in OWS, it will happen.  And practicing will help teach you how to avoid it.

Take an additional 15 minutes or so on each session.  That much time shouldn't interfere with your existing training.  Then, start slowly incorporating it into your lap swimming.  It may seem hard at first but with a little time it becomes second nature.  Most swimmers can do it with ease, it's not really a special skill.

Then you get that little edge while competing in pool based races.

Turns - Freestyle Flip Turn Step #1

Yeah.

I find a good flip turn vs a good open turn is worth at least a body length.

A well executed flip turn is the fastest way to reverse direction, but an open turn can be pretty fast.

It takes a fair amount of practice to perfect a good flip turn, and I see a lot of very medicore flip turns.  I would bet that my open turns are faster than about 75% of the flip turns I see.

If you choose not to flip, and want to improve the speed of your open turns, Go Swim has a great 4 part video.  Here is part 1 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bx31AJjif0o

x2.

The important thing here to note is that this is a good open turn, not a lazy open turn where you grab a couple breaths while hanging on the wall.  IME, the difference between an average flip turn and a good open turn is a few tenths of a second.

Learning them is not necessary for triathletes, but they do make you a better swimmer overall, which has no downside.

Hypoxic work has been shown to have no payoff.

The study I saw stated .4 sec.  That seems about right.

Two entirely different things

I don't know that holding your breath for the length of time it takes to do flip turn could really be considered hypoxic training.  

The fact of the matter is that swimming requires you to control your breath differently than other sports because you run the risk of inhaling water otherwise.  How can something that involves improving breath control be considered anything other than helpful to a swimmer?

There's no need to ever hold your breath while swimming.  You're either exhaling while under water, or you're inhaling when your face is above water.  Even the whole way through a flip turn and streamline off the wall.  This keeps water out of your nose and sinuses.