A tumble turn or flip turn is one of the

turns in swimming In swimming, a turn is a reversal of direction of travel by a swimmer. A turn is typically performed when a swimmer reaches the end of a swimming pool but still has one or more remaining pool lengths to swim. Types *Open turn: is where the swimm ...

, used to reverse the direction in which the person is swimming. It is done when the swimmer reaches the end of the

swimming pool A swimming pool, swimming bath, wading pool, paddling pool, or simply pool, is a structure designed to hold water to enable Human swimming, swimming or other leisure activities. Pools can be built into the ground (in-ground pools) or built ...

but still has one or more lengths to swim. The technique's development is credited, by the International Swimming Hall of Fame, to Al Vande Weghe at the AAU Nationals in 1934. Previously this entry erroneously credited the invention of the flip turn to University of Texas swim coach Tex Robertson while he was training Adolph Kiefer for the

1936 Olympics 1936 Olympics may refer to: *The 1936 Winter Olympics, which were held in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany *The 1936 Summer Olympics The 1936 Summer Olympics (German: ''Olympische Sommerspiele 1936''), officially known as the Games of the XI ...

. Flip turns are usually only used during

freestyle Freestyle may refer to: Brands * Reebok Freestyle, a women's athletic shoe * Ford Freestyle, an SUV automobile * Coca-Cola Freestyle, a vending machine * ICD Freestyle, a paintball marker * Abbott FreeStyle, a blood glucose monitor by Abbott La ...

and backstroke races. In butterfly and

breaststroke Breaststroke is a swimming style in which the swimmer is on their chest and the torso does not rotate. It is the most popular recreational style due to the swimmer's head being out of the water a large portion of the time, and that it can be s ...

races, regulations require swimmers to touch the end of the pool with both hands simultaneously before turning back for another length. While they legally can flip turn during butterfly and breaststroke races, it is more common to turn left or right to begin the next lap. This style of turning is called an open turn. If the event is medley swimming turns vary based on the combination order of what stroke the swimmer is changing from and to. According to the USA Swimming Stroke and Turn Regulations, in order of the strokes the turns are to be: # Butterfly to backstroke is a two-hand touch open turn. Once a legal touch has been made, the swimmer may turn in any manner, but the shoulders must be at or past vertical towards the back when the swimmer leaves the wall. # Backstroke to

the swimmer must first touch on their back. Once a legal touch has been made, the swimmer may turn in any manner. #

Breaststroke Breaststroke is a swimming style in which the swimmer is on their chest and the torso does not rotate. It is the most popular recreational style due to the swimmer's head being out of the water a large portion of the time, and that it can be s ...

is two hand touch open turn. Once a legal touch has been made, the swimmer may turn in any manner.

References

External links

Amateur Swimming Association
(ASA), Swimming Teaching and Coaching, Level 1, Hogarth L.'' (1998).

*Leisure Press, Swimming into the 21st Century - Colwin C. Mayfield, Swim Even Faster, Maglischo E W, (Edit.1993). *Pelham Books, Coaching the Young Swimmer, Wilke K, Madsen O, (1992/3). *Wolfe Medical Publications, Athletic Ability and the Anatomy of Motion, Wirhed R, (1984).

"Joe Gardner Executes Perfect Breaststroke Flip Turn at Big Tens." (2021) Swimming {{Swimming-stub