Butterfly & Breaststroke Turns
The turn plays an essential role in the stroke. If well performed, it can help you gain speed on each of the transitions and therefore help you acquire time. There are 2 types of turns: the flip turn in freestyle and backstroke, and the open turn in butterfly and breaststroke. It is important for young swimmers in their early years of training to learn how to control the various stages of the turn.
The different stages of the open turn (turn using the hands)
1. The approach
In order to achieve a fast turn, you need to arrive at the wall at a good speed. You have to work on your penultimate stroke cycle in order to gain speed during your last stroke cycle.
2. Hands on the wall
The head must remain streamlined with the entire body, with the hands gently absorbing the shock of the wall. Both hands must touch the wall at the same time.
3. The switchover
The legs have to be brought back quickly to the chest, heels at the buttock. One arm dives back in the water while the other one leaves the wall following push off. The head straightens out whereas the body and the legs remain in the same axis whilst rolling to the side. The switchover stage allows the feet to be positioned at the wall with the hands brought back out in…
