Flip turn mechanics

greenspun.com : LUSENET : Swimming : One Thread

My 13 yr old son, a novice swimmer on our local club team, is progressing to the point where he needs tips on flip turns. His coach is busy with everyone during practice, and my son is hesitant about broadcasting his needs to his peers. He continues to come out of the turn with a nose full of water. Is this just a case of practice or are there essential and simple mechanics that he can master?

-- Bill McDonald (wom@whplaw.com), June 03, 1998

Answers

There are some excellent drills which your son's coach should be able to introduce into the training session to help your son and reinforce turns with the remainder of the squad. It is something I do regularly with my younger swimmers and develop the skill with my national age an seniors. Talk to the coach about your concerns. Rather than describe them here (space) Am willing to send description don the line.

-- Brian Moebius (bmoebius@hotmail.com), July 03, 1998.

As a varsity swimmer I can help you by telling your son that when he turns he should breathe out of his nose and not his mouth. This way he will not be getting water in his nose. After he is back in streamline position he can continue breathing out of his mouth. This should prevent getting water up the nose.

-- Katie Krenek (dramaqueen95@hotmail.com), February 14, 1999.

Some of the drills your son could practice include breaking the flip turn down into essential parts- the flip, the plant of his feet against the wall and the push off

have him swim a few 25's where every frew feet he does a somersault, like a gymnast his chin should fall toward his chest and his legs should exhert pressure forward- not just go for the ride

When he is more comfortable with the flip action- and skilled at breathing through his nose- bubbles like when he was a baby!- then move on to the wall and have him flip and place his feet onthe wall approx. 8 - 10 inch from the top- have him push off on his back

when he is skilled at this have him continue to practice this part and push off in the streamlined position- arms extended legs straight

i would also suggest having him do 2 - 3 butterfly kicks in the streamlined position

he should practice not breathing from the backstroke flags in or out of his turn

-- jennifer foley (foleyj@kingsway.k12.nj.us), February 16, 1999.


be sure to "snap" your heels over with much force. you can practice this by swimming 25's flipping over every few yards making sure to snap heels over. also when approaching the wall begin flipping about 1 to 2 yards from the wall, leaving your legs straight, push off with the point of your toes.

-- shawn schroeder (swiman@aol.com), April 23, 2000.

what this flip turn in thw swimming sport?

-- hosein pourshamsi (h_pourshamsi@yahoo.com), December 24, 2001.


I have a similar problem.. I try and try to concentrate on getting water out of my nose but I always stall pushing air out at the bottom of the flip.. It is incredibly frusterating.

I practice with nose plugs and am fine but the minute those come off I find it is nearly impossible to not get a huge amount of water up my nose and makes me panic.

any tips?

-- CP (lingo1930@hotmail.com), May 28, 2003.


I dont have an answer but im a varsity swimmer and need help i lose the most time on my back stroke flip turn anyone have tips for me. I have trouble pushing my hands back into the streamline postion. I get 2 in meets but i want 1st im so close but i lose time on the turn. Email me to help. Thanks

-- Melissa (kaleygranger@yahoo.com), December 12, 2004.

Moderation questions? read the FAQ