Due to limited pool time I’ve never really worried much about mastering flip turns.
But due to some shoulder pain issues (mentioned in last post) I decided to ease off a little on the swimming and spend some off the time learning flip turns.
I almost have them, with a nose clip. Take the nose clip away however and it’s a disaster. No matter how hard I blow out through my nose, water goes up & I can’t tolerate it. Also I run out of air from exhaling so much through the nose. I also can’t use a snorkel without a nose clip.
You don’t necessarily need to exhale aggressively or hard. I can see why you would run out of breath quickly. Try practice exhaling slowly over a longer duration under water. If you don’t want to exhale during your turn, press your tongue to the roof of your mouth. I find that helps close off the nasal passage from my throat and I don’t end up with water flooding my sinuses/nose.
You can also try practicing from a standing position. Head to hip deep water and practice jumping and somersaulting forward, landing on your feet, and standing up with arms extended in the air.
I have no issue exhaling slowly through the nose when swimming normally, but when upside down in the turn, nothing seems to keep the water out. Very frustrating.
You don’t exhale through your nose for the entire turn, only when you need to. Practise by tipping your head upside down and blowing out hard. It should be physically impossible for air to go up your nose.
I spent most of my lunch swim thinking about this.
A few questions. Do you look “up” at the wall before you turn, or do you start your turn with your head down/chin tucked? Can you do a sommersault in the middle of the pool with no issues?
Sorry if I ruined your swim thanks for thinking of me though!
Don’t think I look at the wall, am looking at the floor.
I can do a somersault with nose clip for sure, without I think is more difficult but not as bad as the flip turn (not 100% sure, will check on Thursday when at the pool next).
Kudos to you for taking the time to learn flip turns! And you are certainly not an idiot for using nose plugs. I have seen very successful swimmers use them. Some years ago I saw an American backstroker win NCAAs using nose plugs that actually had a strap attached. He let the strap dangle under his nose and it fluttered along while he swam. So you can work to eliminate your need for them if you like but at the end of the day using nose plugs or not should be no big deal.
The thing that a lot of new flippers don’t realize is just how core-driven a good flip turn is- throw your head forward into the turn, drive with abs and hips. Your arms really shouldn’t do anything other than point toward the direction of where you wan to go when you come out of the flip.
I feel like an idiot!!
thanks for thinking of me though!
I’m such a swimming loser!!!