Basic Flip Turn Drills

The best way to learn how to flip turn is to break the movement down into its pieces. There are three main movements to learn.

Step 1: Somersault

The first step is to get comfortable doing a somersault. Do these right at the wall so you can incorporate learning to land your feet on the wall properly.

Get about a foot or two from the wall and lie face down in the water with your head pointing toward the wall. Tuck your chin, hinge at the waist, and roll forward so that you roll into a somersault and your feet go over the water toward the wall. Keep your hands at your sides to keep them out of the way.

Step 2: Add the Approach

Next, kick into the wall from the backstroke flags, face down with your arms at your sides. As you near the point where you want to flip, tuck your chin, hinge at the waist and roll forward until you’re on your back and your feet are in the air. Plant your feet on the wall. It’s the same movement you did in step 1; you’ve just added the kicking approach and have planted your feet on the wall when you landed.

Step 3: Add Arms

In this final progression, you’ll add in your strokes into the wall. As you approach the point where you want to turn (the same location you used in the previous two drills), bring your arms down to your sides with your hands by your hips, tuck your chin, and roll forward. As you plant your feet on the wall, your arms should end up over your head, then place them into a streamline.

From that position, you’re lined up to push off and start swimming in the opposite direction.