Start and Turn Technique Tips
Tips to help you change directions when you reach the wall and to get you started at the beginning of a race.
Flip Turns Make This Swimmer Sick
A swimmer asks: While I do enjoy swimming, I have never learned to flip turn. Every time I try to do a flip turn, I get nauseous! I want to learn how to do good flip turns, so I need help. Any ideas on how I can stop the sick feeling I get when I try to do a flip turn?
A swimmer asks: While I do enjoy swimming, I have never learned to flip turn. Every time I try to do a flip turn, I get nauseous! I want to learn how to do good flip turns, so I need help. Any ideas on how I can stop the sick feeling I get when I try to do a flip turn?
Swim Start Technique for a Swimmer Starting Masters Swimming Training
Both toes forward on the start (swimming grab start), may get swimmers off the starting block a little quicker. One foot forward, one foot back, (track-style start), may get swimmers off of the block a little slower, but the swimmer might get further in the air. The end result seems to be that both starting techniques for swimmers work well. It comes down to individual strengths, flexibility, confidence, and what is done immediately after entering the swimming pool that make the difference.
Both toes forward on the start (swimming grab start), may get swimmers off the starting block a little quicker. One foot forward, one foot back, (track-style start), may get swimmers off of the block a little slower, but the swimmer might get further in the air. The end result seems to be that both starting techniques for swimmers work well. It comes down to individual strengths, flexibility, confidence, and what is done immediately after entering the swimming pool that make the difference.
The Beginning of All Swimming Races - The Swimmers Start
A great start to a swimming race can mean the difference between a GOLD and SILVER swim. So now how do swimmers go about improving their start so they can get ahead of the competition from the beginning?
A great start to a swimming race can mean the difference between a GOLD and SILVER swim. So now how do swimmers go about improving their start so they can get ahead of the competition from the beginning?
About The Beginning of All Races: Starts
Guest Author Brendon Dedekind gives some tips he uses to maximize his starts.
Guest Author Brendon Dedekind gives some tips he uses to maximize his starts.
The Freestyle Flip Turn
Heading into the wall, somersaulting, and pushing off that wall - the basic flip turn. Wow! Looks neat. But is it necessary? The flipturn (or flip turn if you prefer) may not be necessary, but it can make your swimming a little faster ans more fun.
Heading into the wall, somersaulting, and pushing off that wall - the basic flip turn. Wow! Looks neat. But is it necessary? The flipturn (or flip turn if you prefer) may not be necessary, but it can make your swimming a little faster ans more fun.
About Turns, Part 1
An introduction to open turns, from the About.com site.
An introduction to open turns, from the About.com site.
About Turns, Part 2
More on open turns, from the About.com site.
More on open turns, from the About.com site.
About Turns, Part 3
Breakouts - the transition from turns to swimming from the About.com site.
Breakouts - the transition from turns to swimming from the About.com site.
About Turns, Part 4
Freestyle Flip Turns, from the About.com site.
Freestyle Flip Turns, from the About.com site.
Backstroke Starts
Step by step instructions on completing a "backwards" racing start, from Clay Britt.
Step by step instructions on completing a "backwards" racing start, from Clay Britt.
Breakouts
The underwater portion between the start and swimming; From PowerStart.
The underwater portion between the start and swimming; From PowerStart.
Breaststroke Pull-outs
Maximizing this part of each start and turn, by Budd Termin and David Pendergast
Maximizing this part of each start and turn, by Budd Termin and David Pendergast
Breaststroke Turns
John Moffet's take on how to do an open turn, broken down into the approach, turn, push-off, and pull-down.
John Moffet's take on how to do an open turn, broken down into the approach, turn, push-off, and pull-down.
Five steps for better dive starts
Five tips to get your starting going - these are aimed at a traditional grab start rather than a track start - we'll cover that another time!
Five tips to get your starting going - these are aimed at a traditional grab start rather than a track start - we'll cover that another time!
Five steps to better tumble turns
Forget turning for a while, and go back to practicing forward rolls in the water. Its amazing how hard they can be!
Forget turning for a while, and go back to practicing forward rolls in the water. Its amazing how hard they can be!
Freestyle Turns Revisited
Freestyle turns can become your greatest strength. However you must decide to dedicate yourself to making them better. With everything that you have done thousands of times it becomes harder and harder to change because the number of poor turns compared to good turns is against you.
Freestyle turns can become your greatest strength. However you must decide to dedicate yourself to making them better. With everything that you have done thousands of times it becomes harder and harder to change because the number of poor turns compared to good turns is against you.
Nine Stages of a Powerful Start
PowerStart breaks down the beginning of a race into nine, easy to understand pictures.
PowerStart breaks down the beginning of a race into nine, easy to understand pictures.
Off on the Right Foot
Fitness Swimmer and ActiveUSA explain when to use a track start - and when not to use it.
Fitness Swimmer and ActiveUSA explain when to use a track start - and when not to use it.
Relay Starts
Learn how to do a freestyle relay start from Rowdy Gaines.
Learn how to do a freestyle relay start from Rowdy Gaines.
Starting Stances
PowerStart's pictures of how to stand on the blocks.
PowerStart's pictures of how to stand on the blocks.
Swim.EE Start & Turn Pictures
Great pictures of starts and turns for all strokes.
Great pictures of starts and turns for all strokes.
The Flip Turn Illustrated
Text and photos that show how to do a freestyle flip turn.
Text and photos that show how to do a freestyle flip turn.