Swimming - Breathing on open turns

John Henault

I posed a question in response to some Strava comments, but wanted to post it here also rather than detract from the utility of the EN forum. Here goes:

I do not do flip turns in the pool. I'm an adult onset swimmer and never learned how (although I've tried a few times). So, I'm an open turn swimmer. For those who do open turns, how do you breathe on the turn? I breathe on the normal stroke, then do an open turn without breathing and breathe again with the first stroke off the wall. I'm curious if there is a better way.

Steve West

Regardless of when I take my last breath entering the turn, I take a breath mid turn then after my second stroke off the wall.

My turns aren't all that pretty either. More like the way a whale breaches and splashes back sideways. So as I touch one handed, I breach and pivot sideways while taking a breath. Most of the time I splash down on my right ear.

AnnSloan

Thanks for describing exactly what I do.... So plus one :-)

Al Truscott

Keep trying to learn flip turns. No harder than biking without falling when stopping while wearing cleats. You'll go 2-3 sec faster / 100, work your core, and look and feel like a swimmer. You tube videos and/or a friendly swim coach can help immensely with the secrets.