Pools Have Walls: Turns, Part 2 - Other Open Turns

Open turns are used in breaststroke and butterfly, and commonly in the individual medley, or IM, when switching between strokes. The basics of breaststroke and butterfly turns have been covered in a previous swimming open turn article. If you have the basic open turn technique figured out, you should begin to use it for switching between some strokes, too. You can use an open turn for belly down to belly down , belly down to belly up, and belly up to belly down strokes. This article will discuss open turns from one stroke to another in the IM (IM switches) and how to approach a turn.

IM Switches

The current rules for the individual medley (equal lengths of butterfly, backstroke, breaststroke, and a fourth stroke other than the three previously swum - almost everyone uses freestyle) require that upon the completion of each different stroke portion of the race, that portion is completed in the same manner as it would be if the race was concluded at that point. In other words, at the end of butterfly and breaststroke, you must touch the wall with both hands simultaneously while still on your chest. Backstroke requires that you touch the wall with one hand while still on your back.

There are other ways to turn besides open turns, but they are usually simpler and allow you to "catch a breath" during the turn. But remember not to linger on the wall; you are not moving forward when you are turning around! All of these open turns share the same basic steps (covered in the previous article) if done as open turns once you are in the appropriate position. Each IM switch requires a little different wiggle to get into that position.

Butterfly to backstroke requires you to touch the wall with both hands, execute the open turn, then, as you extend in a streamline and push off of the wall, you must be rotated so that you are more on your back than on your chest (this is normally determined by comparing the plane of a line drawn through the shoulders - the lower shoulder should be rotated less than 90 degrees).

Backstroke to breaststroke switches will have one hand will touch the wall and remain there for a few moments. Your head should turn to look at the hand on the wall, to help you rotate off your back towards your side. The other hand stays out, away from the wall, pushing against the water to help you swing your body around at the hip, your knees up towards your chest, and your feet towards the wall. At the same time your knees are moving towards your chest and you are rotating onto your side, your upper body is swinging away from the wall. The hand on the wall pushes off slightly and, with a bent elbow, enters the water behind your head and extends towards the other hand. Your upper body lowers into the water on your side, you fully extend into a streamline and push off of the wall, rotating the belly side of your body more towards the bottom of the pool - again, the shoulders will be the normal point of reference for an official.

Breaststroke to Freestyle open turns are carried out just like any other belly to belly open turn. Details can be found in the first open turn article.

The Approach

You are swimming towards a wall and you are going to turn around - what do you do? Speed up or attack are common instructions given to competitive swimmers. Why? It seems many people approach the turn tentatively, slow down, and move in slow motion. In a race, this is a great opportunity to maintain your current speed or even increase it, giving you a big advantage. You are going faster while your competitors are slowing down! Keep that speed flowing through the turning motions

But... if you don't use some way to spot the wall, you could get there before you are ready and BAM! As you move towards the wall using breaststroke, butterfly, or even freestyle, look at the bottom markings of the pool and at the approaching wall. You will notice the line is crossed like a "T" near the wall, and the wall also has a "T" on it (in most pools). Use these points to judge how far you are form the wall and if necessary, take a slightly longer or shorter stroke so you "hit" the wall quickly but still under control.

What about backstroke? Most pools have a line of flags over the pool 5 meters from the wall. Count your strokes as you pass under the flags and you will know how many strokes it takes you to get there. First, you must teach yourself how many strokes to take. Practice approaches into the wall at gradually increasing speeds, counting your strokes each time. Ask a friend to sit at the wall with a kick board (and a loud voice) to give you a signal when you have completed the "magic" number of strokes between the flags and a hand touch on the wall. Hopefully, your buddy will also cushion your head before it hits the wall if you lose count during the learning process. Use that number in practices and in races, and you will know where the wall is every time - without even seeing it!

Other cues to an approaching wall are lane line color changes - the "ropes" will change from alternating colors to a solid color at the same 5 meter mark, under the backstroke flags. Each pool may also have its own unique markings; ladders, lights, speakers or any other visual cue that can be used to tell you where you are without slowing down to plot your course.

Turns need to be done fast to be fast. First, do them slowly and practice each movement, from the approach through the streamlined push off as you gain confidence, begin to speed things up - start by speeding up your approach, then add speed to the rest of the steps, until they flow like the water you are doing them in.

More on Swimming Turns:

• Swim Turns, Part 1 - Open Turns
• Swim Turns, Part 2 - More Open Turns
• Swim Turns, Part 3 - Breakouts or Surfacing
• Swim Turns, Part 4 - Freestyle Flip Turn Basics
• Swim Turns, Part 5 - More on Freestyle Flip Turns
• Swim Turns, Part 6 - Backstroke Flip Turn Basics

Swim On!