Warm up
See pre-set
Skills & drills Flipturn: Pull & Roll

For the first-timers, it is great to practice the somersault movement in the water and get used to flipping upside down in the water. For more advanced swimmers, try to flip small and fast while staying in control of your body. This next drill helps you bring the speed into your flip.

 

How to do it


  • Push off the wall on the surface with your feet at shoulder width

  • Now pull through strongly with both arms

  • At the end of the pull through, put your chin on your chest and drive your head down by bowing at the waist line

  • Pull your knees to your chest and tumble quickly on your back

Focus points 


  • Pull through first before starting the tumble

  • Remain at the surface so your feet flip over through the air

  • Engage your core when bowing at the waist line

  • Make yourself as small as possible, this will speed up your flip

  • Flip as fast as possible, don’t hesitate

Coach tip

Whether this is the first time you are practicing flipturns or you are already able to do them, this drill is always good to keep practicing. Once practiced often, move on to step 3 of our flipturn progression.

Equipment:

none
Coach tips

COACH TIP

The key to mastering flip turns without getting too tired is to practise every swim session. Slowly integrate flipturns into your routine. Start by doing just a few flipturns in every session, then build towards doing a flipturn every 200 meters, etc. Don't breathe out too much air, breathe out just a little through your nose.

More coach tips?

coach tips
Pre set 1 ROUND distance: 700
stroke pace rest
1 x 200M Choice Easy 20s
Warm-up
2 x 100M Freestyle-pull Easy 20s
6 x 50M Drill Easy 10s
Drill: Flipturn 'Pull & Roll' (see video)
rest after round: 0s

Instructions Start every 50 with the Pull & Flip drill and continue swimming on easy pace. Pull & Roll

Equipment Pull buoy

Main set 3 ROUNDS distance: 1500
stroke pace rest
3 x 100M Freestyle Easy 20s
Make fast flipturns
4 x 50M Freestyle-pull Steady 20s
Focus on a fast and strong push out at the end of your pull-through.
rest after round: 60s

Instructions Round 2: freestyle-pull with paddles

Equipment Pull buoy and paddles