How to Flip at the Pool Edge While Swimming

Whether you swim for exercise or in competition, nothing displays your competence like a smoothly executed kick turn. When you master the kick turn, (also called the flip turn), you will reduce the amount of time it takes you to reverse direction and you will maximize the amount of time spent actually swimming. Like any physical skill, you can learn and master the kick turn through repetition of a few straightforward steps.

Instructions

  1. First Preparation: Somersault

    • 1

      Stand in chest-deep water, with your hands by your side.

    • 2

      Turn a forward somersault, bringing your torso down and your arms up. Tuck your legs close to your chest. Try not to over-use your arms.

    • 3

      Blow out through your nose during your somersault to prevent water from entering your sinuses.

    Second Preparation: Mid-Pool Flip

    • 4

      Swim at normal speed. When away from the pool edge, while completing a stroke with one arm, leave the other arm at your side.

    • 5
      In a properly executed flip turn, you will end up on your back, face and toes facing upward.

      Duplicate the somersault motion you developed in the previous step. With both arms at your side, tuck your chin, bring your torso down and your arms up. Notice that your arms start out pointing in the opposite direction to your swim, and will end up pointing in your new direction of swim — but it’s the same direction.

    • 6

      Blow out through your nose during your flip. You should end up on your back with your arms pointing the same direction as your head.

    The Flip Turn

    • 7

      Swim at normal speed towards the pool edge. At the point where you could stretch and touch the wall with your stroke, bring your hand to your side so both arms are at your sides, pointing back in the opposite direction.

    • 8

      Bring your torso down and your arms up. Tuck your legs, blow out through your nose and complete your somersault. You are now on your back, your arms are facing back to the opposite end of the pool and your legs are tucked into your body with your feet pointed up.

    • 9

      Place your feet on the pool wall, toes pointed up. Your knees should be making a 90-degree angle.

    • 10

      Push off, kicking a few strokes on your back, then continuing to kick while rotating to your side and then to your stomach.

    • 11

      Begin your arm stroke as you rotate to your stomach, starting with the arm on your lower side.