A flip flip is an underwater somersault that you simply carry out when you attain the wall at one finish of a pool. It’s additionally a swimmer’s secret weapon for fast laps.

When accomplished proper, this maneuver may help you save valuable time at first of each lap, and offer you a lift of velocity as your forcefully push off the wall. However to get essentially the most out of it, it’s essential to learn to do a flip flip correctly.

Right here’s how you can do a freestyle and backstroke flip flip with good kind.

Throughout What Strokes Do You Use a Flip Flip?

Flip turns are greatest used throughout the freestyle and backstroke, says Lindsay Bechtold, personal swim teacher. “Butterfly stroke and breaststroke turns are known as ‘open turns,’” she provides.

The rationale? In competitions utilizing the butterfly stroke and breaststroke, you’re required to the touch the wall with two palms earlier than beginning your subsequent lap.

With freestyle and backstroke, you’re solely required to the touch the wall with one hand, and you may push off the wall together with your toes.

Flip Flip: Step-by-Step Directions

• As you strategy the wall at one finish of the pool, the black line on the underside of your lane will change into a “T.” This “T” tells you the wall is simply two toes away and it’s time to start out your flip flip.
• Permit your face to cross the “T” and take your final stroke going into the wall. As you end the stroke, sweep your arms all the way down to your sides, and tuck your chin and knees into your chest. Protecting your legs collectively, tuck right into a ball and permit your head to cleared the path. Exhale by means of your mouth as you go to keep away from water going up your nostril as you flip the other way up.
• Your legs will ultimately swing out of the water, however nonetheless hold your knees bent and legs tucked.
• As you end your flip, plant your toes flat on the wall together with your knees bent. Then, attain your arms ahead and push off the wall right into a streamline place, rotating so your abdomen is dealing with the underside of the pool.

Backstroke Flip Flip: Step-by-Step Directions

• As you strategy the wall, search for the flags that hold over the tip of the pool. When you attain the flags, start counting your strokes. “Each swimmer has their very own ‘rely,’ or variety of arms to achieve the wall,” Bechtold says. (You’ll need to determine your rely earlier than making an attempt flip turns.) If it normally takes you 5 counts to achieve the wall, start your flip on 4 counts.
• Take your final stroke going into the wall. As you end the stroke, cross your reverse arm (the one which’s down by your facet) throughout your physique and into the water to flip your self onto your abdomen.
• Sweep your arms all the way down to your sides, and tuck your chin and knees into your chest. Protecting your legs collectively, tuck right into a ball and permit your head to cleared the path. Exhale by means of your mouth as you go to keep away from water going up your nostril as you flip the other way up.
• Your legs will ultimately swing out of the water; hold your knees bent and legs tucked.
• As you end your flip, plant your toes flat on the wall together with your knees bent. Then, attain your arms straight above your head and push off the wall right into a streamline place.

Flip Flip Ideas

1. Get comfy together with your respiratory sample earlier than making an attempt a flip flip. This can assist you to nail the timing of flipping on the wall, and assist you to keep away from getting a nostril stuffed with water.
2. Keep in mind to exhale by means of your mouth as you tuck your chin so that you create bubbles as you flip over. Once more, this may hold the water out of your nostril.
3. If the considered doing an underwater somersault right into a wall makes you nervous, follow flipping in open water. Bechtold typically has newbies follow by flipping over each seven strokes, however discover your personal rhythm and get working towards. As soon as you are feeling assured doing the flip in open water, then attempt doing a flip flip on the wall.