Improving Swimming Flip Turns

This post is for those struggling with swimming flip turns. During the 2012–2013 winter season (the winter is when I do most of my swimming) I have found that open turns are faster for me, but nearly every source indicates that a flip turn is the only way to go when swimming freestyle. Hmmm, read on.

There are some great videos on how to do and improve an “open turn” at the bottom of this page. I have found that by doing this type of turn, instead of a flip turn, that my breathing issues have disappeared.

BASIC STEPS OF A FLIP TURN

>> Good individual photos. Hover over white boxes in photos for additional tips. Below are the relevant steps reviewed on this site called Instructables.

Step 1: SWIM TOWARDS THE WALL
Gain momentum towards the wall by swimming freestyle into the wall in the center of the lane (if possible). Generally, the more momentum you have, the faster your turn will be. However, be sure to start off slow on your first few practice runs! It doesn’t feel good to run into the wall.
Step 3: START ROLLING
When you are directly above the T on the bottom of the pool, begin your half-somersault. Tuck your chin, kick one last hard kick and finish your arm pull with your hands ending at your sides.
Step 4: DO THE FLIP
Tuck your knees and chin into your chest as tight as possible, and pull your feet into your butt. Use your arms to keep the somersault going by pushing the water up towards your ears with your palms and forearms.
Step 5: STRAIGHTEN UP
As you complete your half-somersault, straighten your arms out over your head and put one hand on top of the other. Point the tips of your fingers in the direction you want to go, which is directly down the pool. Be sure to squeeze your arms tight! From the waist up, you should be in a streamline: think of making your body match the shape of a torpedo. Long and tight!
PLANT THOSE FEET
Extend your legs out of the curled ball, and plant them squarely on the wall approximately 6” under the surface of the water, toes pointed up. As you get better, you will want to be close enough to the wall that your hips and knees are both making 90 degree angles, as is you’re sitting straight up in a chair.
Step 6: PUSH OFF
Launch yourself off the wall by straightening your legs and moving your entire body in a tight streamline (remember, torpedo-like). Staying on your back, push straight off of the wall. Remember to keep your eyes on the surface of the water and not on your toes or your destination!
Step 7: KICK
To maintain your momentum, kick your legs are you are leaving the wall. There are two types of kick to choose from at this point:

It all depends on your preference and what’s faster for you. As you become more comfortable with the turn, play around with both kicks to decide which is best for you.

OTHER SITES

1. Research indicating that flip turns can cut off 26 seconds in a 1650 yd Free Race
2. Flip turn videos (Triathlete site)
3. Five videos on how to do flip turns. Using a noodle is the first step.  They encourage you to NOT use your arms. Here are the other steps: two, three, four & five. (Videos from the huge GoSwim video library).
4. Also see this video or this one on mid-lap flips.
5. Semi-useful animation of flips.

OPEN TURNS (or as I call it…backwards flip turns)

From Go Swim: video 1, video 2, video 3 and video 4.
Traditional flip turns are generally accepted as the fastest way for freestyle stroke and an “open turn” is generally accepted as the fastest way for breaststroke or butterfly. Video 1 says that this method of an open turn, is as fast, if not faster than a flip turn. Personally I have found that this turn is much faster than the somersault flip turn. I don’t get a dizzy and get an extra breath this way.

Their mantra is “speed in” and “speed out,” the faster you approach the wall, the faster you will leave it. Be sure to NOT grab the wall and pull yourself into it.

Author: Rando Richard

I’m an old guy (age 69 in 2023) who enjoys aerobic, endurance sports. I call myself a cardio-junkie. Perhaps the more appropriate term would be “ultra” endurance sports. Since I was a teenager I have always enjoyed “slow twitch” outdoor sports like backpacking, ice climbing, running, mountaineering, hiking, alpine skiing and randonnée skiing (alpine touring, backcountry skiing or skimo). In 2005 I starting running with more regularity — except this time it was not for the intent of getting ready for a mountaineering trip, but as an end to itself. From 2005 to 2007 I managed to eek out two seasons of ultramarathons — that is competitive trail runs up to 50 or 100 miles. Due to a nagging ankle injury from the 80s (an accident while ice climbing in the 1980s where my lower tib and fib were badly broken), I had to cease that grueling, but rewarding activity. I then migrated into ultra distance road cycling or randonneuring. The rides are called brevets (pronounced bruh-VAY, it’s French) and are minimally supported — they are similar to ultrarunning and backpacking where one must be self reliant. Although brevets are non-competitive, they do have have cut off times to qualify as a finisher. They are usually are done in groups, which can have a competitive slant to them. Today, I continue to participate in long distance cycling including some ultra-racing, randonnée skiing (a blend of cross country and downhill disciplines) and still get out on an occasional mountaineering trip. Since 1996 I have been designing, manufacturing and selling camera bags. That is Kinesis Photo Gear (kgear.com). In 2005 I started selling cycling bags under the Kinesis label and eventually expanded it to including other sports like SUP (stand-up paddle boarding and some skimo). Consequently, it become eoGEAR — the “eo” stands for endurance outdoor. My wife and I are empty-nesters now and we live and work out in the boondocks of central Utah, half way between Salt Lake City (great powder) and Moab (great red rocks). Well, I guess that is all for now. Safe travels mate! Perhaps I’ll see you on the road or trail. — Richard Stum View all posts by Rando Richard