How To Not Be GASSED After A Flip Turn (I Discovered This Too Late)

Distance swimmers and triathletes can save a lot of energy off their turns by doing two things completely the opposite to what I was taught as a junior swimmer.
Still learning how to flip turn? This video shows you how:
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[@gregjones3671]

100 % spot on. I’m a 67 year old 3-4 times per week pool and ocean swimmer, 1,200-1,500 yards w some intervals. No swim team or competitions, just swim for fitness and the joyful post-swim buzz. I’ve been experiencing occasional fatigue and/or displeasure after a series of flip turns for years, and stumbled into Brenton’s solution. Let go of the Olympic wannabe power underwater dolphin kicks, and just come off the wall smooth, powerful and hydrodynamic (like an arrow), and resume your crawl stroke before your leg push off the wall loses speed-breathe the first stroke you take. Problem solved!

[@Cookefan59]

Same here my friend. My issue with flip turns used to be the water up my nose until I adjusted my exhalation through the nose timing. Now, I look forward to the turns as they have improved my 100 yard interval times.

[@jojijosette5946]

Greg Jones, you're an inspiration. I hope I can keep swimming like you when I get to 67 y.o.. Thank you for sharing your comment.

[@gregmccullum1000]

Great stuff to you and positive comments help all ​@@jojijosette5946

[@robohippy]

The dolphin kicks are fine, well essential for sprints, but not for distance swimming. You have to keep oxygen levels up. Another key point seldom mentioned is to get under the back wash, which is the water that is following you into the wall, or perhaps I should say you are dragging it along with you. If you push off right on top of the water, you are heading into a current. If you get down 2 or so feet, you are under most of it. This was one of Michael Phelps' super powers which he did better than just about any one out there.

[@ianbarry9870]

I’m a 72 year old who has recently added flip turns into my swim sessions. I have no dolphin kick, or not much kick at all for that matter, but have found I have to break the surface and get into freestyle mode asap, or else I get a bit distressed and out of breath, which takes over 25 metres to settle. I’m hoping with continued practice my turns will become more efficient and I will relax a bit more. I’m not looking for huge time savings, just want to look more proficient and continue to enjoy my swimming. Enjoy your videos. Thanks.

[@ms3528]

Thank you, Brenton. Have definitely experienced elevated heart rate and fatigue as a result of doing flip turns whilst working on regaining some post lockdown swim fitness (in UK, at age 43). Have been looking again at technique for tumble turns and found your video on keeping arms back very useful as I think that somewhere along the line I had forgotten about this. After an initial period of touching the wall, I've found myself naturally coming out of tumble turns with a push of the wall and straight into freestyle kicks with an earlier breakout. Trying to do dolphin kicks every time caused me to need a rest much sooner and as you alluded to in the video, am going for distance. It's good to know I have 'permission' to carry on in this way! Thanks again.

[@sjdj3000]

I’ve been waiting for this !

[@louisfain]

what I also learned to do (again, coaches would probably scream at me for this too) is to make the last stroke a breathing stroke before turning. and sometimes I would even breathe to the left then right into the wall if I'm exhausted. I've practiced it enough that it is almost as fast as a non-breathing stroke. I only do that when I swim long distance of course. I also try to let out as little air as possible without getting water in my nose while upside down. This helps with my urge to breathe after kicking off. Not sure if this is the right way but sure works for me.

[@EffortlessSwimming]

I didn’t mention this but you’re spot on 👍

[@Leo73rr]

Sun Yang does that... surely he isnt wrong! 😉

[@josephstout5832]

In addition you can take 2 breaths in one cycle(left right) after your turn. Jack Conger starts doing this after the first 150 yards of his 500 free national high school record swim. kzbin.info/www/bejne/eKW7gYhroKaGZ7M

[@dcoughman]

@@josephstout5832 I've seen this video of Jack Conger and never noticed that before! Actually, he is breathing like that into AND out of his turns. That is amazing! I need to try that asap!

[@emir2750]

@@josephstout5832 Florian Wellbrock does this too, he even took 3 consecutive breaths in his world record 1500m :D

[@arandomguythatlikesthebann7337]

Thank you SOOOOO much, these videos help me so much with swimming!

[@TheVitunia]

Thank you, sir! Exact type of instruction I needed

[@brettbale9535]

One thing that helped me with this was not taking a massive breath before my flip, then holding it until i resurface. Instead, breathe as you normal and don't hold your breath. You won't run out of air!

[@chingonrex6044]

Thanks!

[@heekomogwin]

Finally lol been waiting for someone to explain how to resolve this plaguing issue Especially on long distance swims

[@walkiriademoraesteixeirada6560]

That's actually very good advice for anyone not training for pool competitions. I swim regularly just as physical activity and also because I love it. He just opened my eyes to the fact that I don't need to stick to every protocol I learned. I actually should, within reason, pick and choose the ones that work for me and help me reach my goals. Eye opening for me, I'll be taking this tip to the pool tomorrow!

[@julimov24]

Great tip! Thanks! Will try it tomorrow!

[@neil319]

Always great content and my go to channel for swim efficient tips.

[@Maddie126]

Excellent video. Will absolutely make this change. Thank you!

[@TheEnrieb]

Thankyou. This is exactly the advice I needed . Subscribed.

[@Cookefan59]

This is spooky. I just reluctantly put flip turns back into my routine 2 days ago and logged the anxiety into my Strava log record. Here we are the next day with a video in my que that talks about the very problem. Talk about coincidences! Or are my Strava notes triggering the internet via spying. Whatever the case may be, by my fifth flip I was comfortable with the technique and it dropped 10 seconds off my 100 yard interval time.

[@SuperCuriouss]

am i the only one so unfit that even without dolphin kicks it leaves me out of breath.

[@iwnl_vale]

Maybe you're blowing out too much air

[@aarong9327]

Dude, I get out of breath thinking about a flip turn.

[@lenzxk]

honestly same im in a swim team, i have a meet tmrw currently cyring bc my flip turns disadvantage me so much i loose

[@Ben-wn1bo]

No, I quit smoking recently and am also fatter than I wanna be I get out of breath ez

[@EstefanGerheim]

Thx for sharing mate.. just tried it today and yes it felt a bit better. Thx 💪

[@PQK]

Thanks so much for posting this! I've often wondered the same thing. I had thought for the longest time that I was not in good enough shape and I needed to up my fitness before I could begin doing flip turns again. I realized 3 things recently. One is this video, which confirms my recent realization. Secondly, is Lucy Charles-Barclay's prep for her Olympic trials 1500 where she specifically did dryland training to prepare herself for the extra effort needed for the flip turn efforts. It then dawned on me that the pros are also gassed after their flips turns. Thirdly, is that I only have access to 25m pools. So if I am doing flip turns I can quite easily be dolphin kicking 10m (5 on both sides) which only leaves 15m for freestyle. It started to seem that for those remaining 15m freestyle I was just using for recovery for the next flip turn. If I was swimming in a 50m pool a flip turn w/ dolphin kick would make more sense for me. So I had decided to just touch the wall on my turns so I could concentrate on putting power and technique into my freestyle. However, it never occurred to me that I can, as you say, just skip the the dolphin kicks. This technique should also work well for 25m pool workouts.

[@dpmcmanus50]

Have you a link to the dryland prep? I'd be interesting in taking a look. Thanks!

[@retiredarmydog6247]

55 year old started swimming for fitness this past January. I watched alot of KZbin videos on proper frontcraw techniques. All have helped me one way or another. I tried flip turns early in my workouts but they seemed to take so much out of me so I abandoned them and just only do push offs. I'm going to try your recommendation and begin working on my flip turns again. I was always embarrassed to do them at the Lap pool because I would do them poorly and didn't want to look like...well let's just say clumsy. I'm now swimming 2000 meters a session 4-5 times a week, but use a snorkel 95% of that because I have such a hard time with the breathing. Weather getting warm enough to use my own pool for those types of exercises so I can just do my laps at main pool and technique practice at mine. Thank you for helping out with us fitness swimmers, I should have started this years ago. 👍

[@jinsoulsbestie1214]

i usually just take a breath before the turn😅 sure, some might say it slows you down before the next lap but if you can really master it, it’ll be way easier. also the speed for the following lap can compensate for the few seconds it takes to breathe before turning👍

[@andreizelchenko934]

Thanks for video!👍 What helps me also: -to breathe two times each stroke before the turn (left arm - inhale, right arm - inhale, turn) -to breathe two times each stroke after the turn (like Sun Yang does). -legs work in freestyle mode right after the turn. No dolphin. I am amateur.

[@mikhaillastname8719]

Contrary to your experience, it helped me to follow the rule: don't breathe after underwater T (or more strictly - after the flags). After some practice, I found that I was comfortable in and out of the turn when I didn't interrupt the approach with breathing. You change your mindset and this commitment somehow alleviates your urge to take a breath.

[@RickMartinYouTube]

very helpful - appreciate the guidance

[@jorgeretamal8106]

Thank yo for the tips that you have provided in the video. They have been sehr useful and effective. Greetings from Germany

[@kp600100]

Excellent tip mate. I was competitive as a junior but now im nearly 50 yr old- after a few turns in the local 25m pool i would be putting in one or two extra strokes per length. Cutting out the dolphin kicks made a massive difference. ( after 1000m im making the same strokes per length as the first length. really chuffed) Cheers

[@cfo2sme]

Thanks for this tip. I am a 65+ distance swimmer (400, 800 and 1500) and recently discovered at an international meet that my PBs were best in a 50 meter pool which says a tremendous amount about the lack of efficiency on my flip turns 😂. On my third week back swimming after COVID lockdown and it is no better so glad to hear that the elite long distance swimmers don't all use the dolphin kick on their turns. This tip could be very helpful and I will start trying it in my next session. Thanks again.

[@suminh100]

Sound advice, thank you! I will give this a go tomorrow.... But sometimes I go too deep (oops!) and have to wait to surface again - that kills my lungs - LOL!

[@federicol8366]

I was overstretching myself with attempting dolphin kicks, getting indeed out of breath, and off pace. Now I feel I am doing the right thing by having done what Brenton suggests. I will be more purposeful after watching this video. Nothing wrong with it! I rather get fitter first and see if I add some dolphin kicks over time, with ease. I do have a decent kick and butterfly style given my overall level and fitness. Mind you I don’t compete at all; I just swim to enjoy and keep healthy. 50 yo.. I got to a decent technique and flow from just splashing my way forward 6 months ago. 2:15 per 100 meters over a 300/400 length makes me proud enough. Down from sand-watch speed :-)

[@robertkertmegi9590]

Great tip mate. Thx

[@barryjap]

I’ll definitely try this next session 🙏🏻

[@muriellesalmon9782]

Hi Brenton, I never learned how to flip turn then I flipped like a potato... But this summer I've decided to change :) and your advices helped me a lot. You're right, after dolphin kicks I'm out of breath... Much easier with flutter kicks

[@joequillun7790]

Finally. A video title pointing "directly" at me. 60+ yr old "ex" distance swimmer. Even in my prime, flip turns left me gasping for air off the wall. Mostly did open turns, but would flip the 1st and last. Never could get past it. I was so optimistic to have a cure for my ailment, but this video was unfortunately disappointing. Why? We didn't do dolphin kicks in freestyle...50 years ago. Guess my lungs are just too small. :(

[@sgttomas]

Fantastic! Thank you

[@daviddawn9043]

Great tips.

[@user-dt1ko6gj3n]

You've confirmed what I believe and always do even if I'm not so poor at dolphin kick. Thanks a lot.

[@77chickox]

As a 70 year old who swims 2 miles, 3 times a week, I alternate flip turns with touch turns precisely because I’m find flips too exhausting and this method helps me with my lap counts. I never learned proper dolphin kicks so I don’t feel comfortable doing them. The first stroke after my turn is usually my weakest. Going to try your suggestion of eliminating the dolphins so the transition becomes smoother and easier. Thank you.

[@jojijosette5946]

I only do a flip turn on one wall (25m), I do open turn on the shallower wall. It works for me.

[@bobfromtadley1867]

Really good tip this. I swim 1 mile (1600m) and although I can flip I dont as too tiring over my distance. Cant wait to give this a go👍

[@thelittlenuttree]

Hey, this worked for me - 51 year old moderate swimmer. I am good at tumble turns but they totally knacker me for anything more than 60% effort. I tried this technique and yes my tumbles are shorter, i break out early but I can at least do them.... just signed up for Effortless Swimming in an attempt to get faster again ;)

[@phxrsx]

Best swim coach in the world.

[@danielnazer7542]

Just found this video but had independently reached the same conclusion and started freestyle kicking out of turns because 1) my dolphin kick is terrible and 2) I noticed some elite distance swimmers don't dolphin kick.

[@Natalie-rl7dq]

YES!! I only do dolphin when I want to be fancy. HA! I do a lot of long-distance in the pool and just want consistency and not feel so hypoxic coming off the wall every turn. Thanks for this video!!

[@kevinemmanuelhernandezlope1037]

Excelente video Saludos

[@olindamedia]

I'm learning that a lot of what I was coached in the late 90's as a kid/teenager in junior swimming squads has changed (definitely more glide/less kick in the stroke now) or was really for improving times over short distances. I'm 37 now and can still hear my coach telling me to not breath into the wall, and to hard dolphin kick out of the wall. I'm trying to build Triathlon Distance in a 25 yard pool the sensation is that I'm always coming out of a turn and not training the stroke as much as I would like.

[@jojijosette5946]

Thank you. I do it exactly as you described. Good to know that Im not "wrong". 😊

[@Me-hl7rw]

Love ur name😆😏😂

[@federicol8366]

same

[@jojijosette5946]

@@Me-hl7rw thank you 😊

[@jojijosette5946]

@@federicol8366 thank you 😊

[@chopchopbc]

Legendary advice.

[@panitnansujintavong3964]

Thank you

[@natashajohnson186]

Thanks Brenton !!! I’ll try this out tomorrow..... um I don’t like flip turns as I get dizzy , but I’m envious of everyone who are able , so I’ll will give this a definite go . 😎

[@dpmcmanus50]

I go back and forth about flip turns. Learned to do them, then have something go wrong, get anxious, and lose confidence. The huge difficulty is the dizziness. Also have ended up in the next lane (I was practicing in a very uncrowded pool fortunately lol), gotten disoriented, cramped up, scraped the bottom of the pool in the shallow end... when I get them right, it feels miraculous but when I have a long swim, I can't afford to rely on miracles. :)

[@natashajohnson186]

@@dpmcmanus50 you don’t know how reassuring that is to me , thank you . Lol on ending up in another lane , sadly me too hahaha . I haven’t been able to swim for 12 weeks as I’m in a hard lockdown in Sydney and we have a 5km limit from our house . But I have hopes that in 4-6 weeks we’ll be free again and I’ll get back into it , can’t wait . I hope you have a great day because definitely made my day a little brighter.

[@dpmcmanus50]

@@natashajohnson186 I hope the covid situation improves for you! Here in the US, it's a roller coaster! And I'm thinking to retry flip turns maybe after my upcoming 10 mile swim (wish me luck! It's current assisted, fortunately!)

[@Kalenjinstf]

Well, this one doesn't help me much. That is because I am not enough good of a swimmer to even think about doing a dolphin kick after the flip turn. But I am exhausted after the flip because it is a more energetic movement for me than doing any stroke freestyle. Every flip turn is like a 1-2 sec high intensity interval, so I find myself out of breath and gasping for air. I would like to breath at the right time before the flip turn to get enough air before the move, but to do that I have to make sure how far from the wall I am. I am never sure of my own speed, how much distance and stroke are left before the wall. So, sometimes I do flip turn (at the right time) and find myself back in a good rythm in the opposite direction after, but sometimes I misjudge something and nearly miss my flip turn (then see myself gassed after...) and one time out of 5 I see when time comes for the flip turn that I have not breath just before and that I don't have the time anymore to do so. Then I just touch the wall with my hand...

[@IvanNovitskii]

robin you are not alone :)

[@olgabirchette2811]

This is literally my problem too😭😭

[@RoxyRoth]

Thanks for this! I'm a 60 y.o. master's swimmer and my coaches really emphasize the dolphin kicks, but i am terrible at butterfly so all i kept thinking was why do i want to add something that is actually slower for me! And gassed after trying!

[@spenabella]

That’s a good tip. Thanks for sharing

[@user-gp4ww3xz1u]

Indeed! My coach tells me that. I started to compete in Masters at the age of 25 (started training at 23 for recovery from spinal hernias) and due to my hernias also doplhin kick is not the best option. It is really weak and doesn't give me much benefit on 400, 800 and 1500 meters freestyle, on which I compete. Thanks!

[@crosbi5872]

I already do this but still feel I gasp for air when I surface?

[@kingsteve8083]

37 and started swimming again to lose weight. Hadn't done flip turns since I was 17 so very, VERY out of practice! These tips work absolute wonders! I was trying to do Olympic-style flip turns and was getting ridiculously out of breath the first few lengths into a mile-long swim, turning the whole thing into a massive slog. This has helped massively with my flip-turns. They might not be what Olympic athletes are doing but damn, my swim feels just so much better now and I'm not losing momentum or getting completely winded.

[@nathanluong2723]

I just found this channel, and it’s perfect because i just started swimming for sport. I’ve had no prior swimming experience and I can barely do a 25. With your videos I can see the mistakes I’ve made, but one thing I want to know is how do I keep calm in the water?I am always freaking out needing a breath just for a 25.

[@mikhaillastname8719]

your comment is 2 yo so probably you've resolved your issues by now but here is an advice anyway: 1. most likely you are kicking too hard with your legs, try 1 kick per 1 arm stroke, you could add more later. work on your stroke to keep it long and efficient. 2. practice breathing each 3-5-7 strokes and other exercises to build C02 resistance (you are not short of air, your body is struggling with excess of C02) 3. make sure you force exhale just before taking a breath to get rid of C02

[@joseluisgigena6206]

Por favor, habilita la traducción en español. Gracias por la excelente explicación de la técnica!🙏

[@Dimo6318]

what about the force to push the wall? I was gassed out and my first thought was that maybe I was pushing to hard on the wall

[@federicol8366]

What worked for me was getting the flip turn right with breast stroke. I guess because I get to the wall more aligned, balanced and getting the distance better. I know it is not by the rules but I get it better this way, and then I can do my crawl tumble turns, where I find it harder. Not that I am very good at any style but I always got better technique and air capacity with breastroke. Any thoughts or similar experience?

[@joeyd1841]

I have a weak kick in freestyle distance what can I do to make my kick stronger?

[@barefootbeachrunner9498]

Thanks mate never thought about doing this Typical the easiest method is always the best I am 55 years old and back into swimming in the last 2 years I wasa competitive swimmer in my young years squad up until my early 20's I was never really that good at tumble turns as my main race strokes were breaststroke and butterfly I can still do the freesstyle turns but they take alot of effort I can swim for hours at 1:40 per 100m pace with a touch turn but rapidly come undone when tumble turning Please any suggestions as to do the tumble turns easier? Cheers 👍

[@EffortlessSwimming]

yep check the link in the video description, there's a link to a video we did on turns

[@barefootbeachrunner9498]

@@EffortlessSwimming Cheers 👍😊 Just had a look I know what im doing wrong now Looking fwd to trying it out next week

[@tonyshihoutang6576]

Can teach us the Michael Phelps flip turn? I watched his turn , seems flip like a ball and then kick straight

[@nikitaw1982]

Swim coach at school said no breath 3 strokes approaching the wall and 3 strokes off the wall. Absolute agony. Though never did more than 3 weeks a year or so. Now first breath is at least a quick one.

[@user-uo6rm2kd9x]

I'm always flipping sideways when I am doing a flip turn, can you make a video about that please?

[@keithcampbell7820]

Common sense rears it’s wonderful head. Thank you. 👏

[@jeffjones7108]

I'm 44, I took up swimming again halfway through last year for the first time since my early 20s. Your videos have helped me enormously. I swim 90% for pleasure and 10% for fitness, but I am enthusiastic about trying to get my technique as good as I can. It feels better through the water if nothing else. I'm torn on the flip-turn, because on the one hand it definitely drains my breath and sends my heart-rate through the roof. On the other hand, it's kind of built-in hypoxia training which will improve my lung capacity. Right? I'm pretty sure though that I mostly do it out of simple vanity. Touch-turns feel like cheating. But they unarguably increase the distance I can swim. I did my first ever set of 2km last week, using the touch turn.

[@Nessunego]

Anyone thinking that swimming should only involve swimming and not pushing yourself against walls to propel yourself forward? Personally I do like open water swimming also because it only involves swimming: no walls to propel yourself forward.

[@cyssoK]

My issue is with the timing of the last breath. Sometimes i panic and take a breath too early and hold my breath too long that i can't wait to catch a breath right after the flip. I'm a novice adult swimmer started a few months ago. Any tips to improve that?

[@andrewmichaels2506]

I’m with ya, so frustrating

[@jw7539]

When you watch this directly before a swim meet

[@janetpollard1416]

Why is there a difference between a tumble turn in Australia/New Zealand and a flip turn in the United States?

[@SVC-hz6dq]

You are totally right, and as obvious as it may seem I kept doing the dolphin kick under water (perhaps for aesthetic reasons) to end up in exhaustion after two hundred meters...

[@genemanansala1147]

👍

[@DublinDapper]

Spiderman off the wall everytime🕷️

[@akdrn3624]

My problem with flip turns is that I struggle to come out of the water and can't do effective dolphin kick. If I use fins, this problem disappear 😅

[@AM87422S]

Always do at least 2 dolphin kick

[@darenramgolam3043]

I have always done it this way since I was a child because my dolphin kicks are very poor and I agree wasted my energy.

[@marianotamola5240]

Second!

[@monicaanderson8035]

My problem is air getting into my suit. It bugs me.

[@evolution.triathlon]

Have you just said that if i swim 100m/1.30 my dolphin kicks are not good? How dare you! Thanks for this tip im sure it works well 👍😀

[@lennylan3223]

Breathing after the first stroke off the wall to maintain momentum is something I have to constantly remind myself of. I usually panic and want to get that first breath right away before I take a stroke. Forget about the dolphin kick. If you are a competitive swimmer, in your 20so r 30s, by all means, learn the dolphin kick, but for the 50 somethings, like myself, forget about it.

[@waynemar11]

I’m not convinced it’s faster unless you’re swimming at 1:30/100 or more. I’ve compared myself to others at 1:50-2:00/100 and am not losing anything at all. In a Masters 1500 race, the first 3 races nobody is tumbling at the end.

[@thelaststandinggaming583]

Third

[@Paul.Casteel]

That's chatting

[@ahmedghandour5645]

Fourth

[@ZamTheCatLover]

cap

[@wsf5443]

First!

[@daviddawn9043]

Takes practice i guess lol