Swimming: Seven Tips For Fast Tumble Turns
Whether you are touch turning or tumble turning, the purpose of the turn is …
- To get into and out of the wall quickly
- To travel far and fast from the wall
- To keep your swim momentum – rather than slowing into the wall and accelerating out.
The best way to turn is using the tumble turn. Done well, this can save you seconds over a 100m – and much more than that over greater distances.
Seven Tips To Fast Tumble Turns
Here are seven steps to fast tumble turns …
The Approach
Don’t fear the wall. Keep your pace up – don’t slow down! Spot the wall a few strokes out – this gives you a chance to adjust your stroke and lead with your favoured arm. Some people count their strokes from the flags as a guide – three or four strokes after the flags they will start the tumble.
I usually breathe on the last stroke before the tumble so I have a lungful of air for the tumble and underwater push off phase.
Distance From The Wall
As a general rule, try and start your tumble one stroke away from the end of the pool.
You can use the ‘T’ at the bottom of the pool as a guide of where you are in the water. As mentioned above, you might count your strokes after the flags and use that as a guide. However you do it, know where you are going to tumble.
The Tumble
At its simplest, you are looking to do a forward roll in the water. Keep the tuck tight, with your knees bent. Once you’ve mastered the tumble, you can try and increase the speed of it, whipping your legs over.
Some swimmers complain of water up the nose during this phase. For this, I would suggest exhaling slowly through the nose.
Foot Plant
Tumble done, you want to plant your feet firmly on the wall before you start to push off. If you freeze framed this, you’re looking to be in a mid-squat position.
A common mistake is swimmers trying to push off the wall immediately, before they have a secure foot plant. Get yourself set, and then push.
Push
Don’t start celebrating the tumble just yet, you still have to generate some speed and power off the wall. You should try and push off with power.
After the push off, you are rotating a little so you are turning onto your side and then your front.
Streamline
You’ve pushed off with great power. Now, to maximise this, you should try be as streamlined as possible. Arms outstretched, hands together. Long body and legs. Pointed toes. Don’t start kicking or pulling too soon – enjoy the momentum off the wall.
Breakout
After two or three metres of gliding, you want to start a gentle kick, bringing yourself to the surface. As a rule of thumb, you want to start swimming again when you are four or five metres out from the wall.
Throughout the turn, you want to be exhaling. You don’t want to hold your breath – otherwise you will be gasping for air when you take your first breath of the new length.
I hope this helps!
Remember, this takes practice! You will not get it right immediately. Have the courage to practice it – it will make a difference to your swim!
If you found this useful, why not share with others?
Swimming: Seven Tips For Fast Tumble Turns
Discover more from Triathlon Swim Squad
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.