3 Simple Steps to a Great Freestyle Flip Turn

Flip turns are one of the most difficult swimming skills to perfect, and it may take you some time and practice to get it just right. There’s a lot to consider when approaching flip turns:

• You must position yourself at just the right distance away from the wall to land a powerful turn that doesn’t shed any of the momentum you’ve built up as you swam down the pool toward the wall.
• Your feet must connect with the correct spot on the wall to enable a powerful push off.
• You have to push off as quickly and efficiently as possible to gain as much benefit from the turn as possible.
• And you have to do all that while keeping water from going up your nose.

I’ve been a swimmer and a swim coach for many years, and I’ve found the simplest way to learn how to do a flip turn is to break it down into three steps.

Step 1

As you approach the wall, move both hands to your sides as quickly as possible so you can get ready for the flip.

Tuck your chin as soon as your arms come to rest at your sides, as that will help you carry your speed better through the somersault.

Step 2

As you commence the flip, tuck your knees in tight to your chest. The tighter you pull your knees into your chest, the faster you’ll make the turn. This is a really important component to better flip turns, so focus on making yourself into a tight ball!

Step 3

As you flip, bring your hands into streamline immediately, even before your feet hit the wall. This step is a lot harder than it sounds, but it does pay off, because if your hands are already in streamline and ready to go, then you’ll be ready to push off the wall and get going the other direction down the pool the instant your feet hit.

Practice these three steps and you’ll soon be doing flip turns like a pro and shaving seconds off your swims.