The Best Flip Turn Drill Ever

Monday Guppies...

Quick aside - Ironwoman Canada had the crazy idea to move me to the faster lane this past Monday. This has happened a few times when some of the speedier guppies do not show up. I actually kind of like it because I much prefer to be the last person in the lane than having to lead. Though my favorite scenario is when TRIgirl BL comes - and I am able to fall in behind her in our normal lane. Or on the very rare occasion when Coach B takes pity on me...

Anyway, moving on to something much more interesting - Monday's flip turn drill.

We'd just finished a slew of one arm, breathe away and sprint sets when Ironwoman Canada plopped water dumbbells at the end of each lane. All sorts of crazy ideas started going through my head - as new equipment usually signals some type of torturous challenge.

Like swimming with sneakers on and shirts tied around your waist. (Or in my case, expending huge amounts of effort to float in place with sneakers on and shirts tied around your waist.)

We were told to grab a weight for each hand as Ironwoman Canada explained the drill. We were to kick with the weights in front of us till reaching the half way point of the lane, flip, letting the weights keep our arms up, then return to the starting point kicking on our backs.

The first attempts for most of us were a comedy of errors.

And then we all started to get it. For the first time, I was able to experience what it should naturally feel like to complete a flip turn, with my arms in the correct position to streamline on my back before rotating to swim.

And the drill not only became the best flip turn lesson ever - but also kind of fun.

So much so, I was sad to see the water weights go.

Flipping

For my past two swim workouts, I’ve been flailing about, attempting what are supposed to be flip turns.

I’ve had a few people say – why bother – there are no walls in the ocean.

Which is true – and if I really wanted to simulate an open water swim, I’d need to find a way to not push off the wall at all – nor take a little breather when doing a regular turn. Maybe remove the lap ropes and lines, generate some wave action, dump in a few gallons of salt and throw in some jellyfish.

And I think the biggest benefit of flip turns – well, when I can actually incorporate them smoothly into my swimming – will be that I won’t be able to take that additional breath or two. Which, I’ve come to learn, really makes a difference. Without that extra air, swimming, especially longer distances, becomes a wee bit more challenging and tiring.

Not to mention, they “should” help me keep up a little better with some of the faster swimmers – and maybe even improve my time in pool sprint triathlons.

So, this past Sunday and Monday, I tried to include flip turns for a least a quarter of each workout. It wasn’t always very pretty.

The baffling part is that I used to be able to do them when I was a teenager (or at least some version that may not have been “technically” correct, but fairly smooth). I’m very comfortable, even still, doing water acrobatics, from all my childhood practice when my friends and I would pretend the pool lap lines were balance beams and would create little gymnastic routines.

But, I’m hopeful about figuring this whole flip turn thing out. I’ve done some research online and am looking forward to my next swim when I can try out some of the tips I’ve found. For example, I think I am twisting way too soon. It sounds like I should really complete the somersault, then turn.

Once the basic form starts falling into place, I’ll work on stopping the little head bobbing thing I am doing now when nearing the wall to try and gauge at what point to start the turn (and to sneak the extra breath or two that I’d normally have taken with a regular turn).

Would welcome suggestions from the expert flippers out there…