Flip Turn
A fast turn in freestyle where the swimmer somersaults at the wall, pushes off on their back and rotates to continue swimming.
Overview
The flip turn, or tumble turn, lets a swimmer change direction at the wall without stopping, keeping momentum through a race or set. Approaching the wall, the swimmer tucks into a forward somersault, plants the feet and pushes off in a streamline.
Judging the distance to the wall so the feet land firmly and pushing off in a tight streamline are the keys to a quick turn.
How to do it
- 1Swim in and judge your distance so the wall is within reach.
- 2Drop your head and tuck into a forward somersault as you reach the wall.
- 3Plant both feet on the wall with your knees bent.
- 4Push off powerfully on your back in a tight streamline.
- 5Rotate onto your front and begin swimming as you surface.
Key points
- Judge your distance so your feet plant firmly on the wall.
- Tuck tightly to spin quickly through the somersault.
- Push off in a streamline before rotating back onto your front.
Where it’s used
Sports that use flip turn:
Related techniques
Freestyle Stroke
The fastest swimming stroke, using alternating overhead arm pulls, a flutter kick and rhythmic side breathing.
Breaststroke
A swimming stroke with a simultaneous arm sweep, a whip-like frog kick and a glide, performed on the front.
Backstroke
The only competitive stroke swum on the back, using alternating overhead arm pulls and a steady flutter kick.
How it connects
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Playing surfaces
- WaterThe medium for aquatic sport — pool or open water that supports the body with buoyancy and resists movement with drag rather than giving footing.
- SnowCompacted or natural snow on slopes and trails — a low-friction surface built for gliding, where skis, boards and runners slide fast over frozen ground.
Movement patterns
- GlideGlide is continuous, low-resistance locomotion in which the body holds a streamlined shape so that momentum generated by a preceding propulsive action carries it smoothly across a surface or through a medium.
- RotationRotating the trunk to generate and transfer power through the body's kinetic chain, plus anti-rotation — resisting unwanted twist to keep the trunk stable.
- SlideA slide is a controlled, low-friction skid of the body or foot along a surface, used to brake, extend reach, or hold a line, where managed friction and a lowered centre of gravity govern the movement.
Skills
- Front crawlThe fastest swimming stroke, using alternating arm pulls and a flutter kick while face-down.
- Returning serveThe skill of reading and playing back an opponent’s serve to stay in the rally.
- CatchingThe skill of cleanly securing a ball travelling through the air or off the ground.
- TacklingThe skill of legally challenging an opponent to win the ball or stop their progress.
- BreathingThe skill of controlling the breath rhythmically to sustain effort and stay relaxed.
Disciplines
- FreestyleFreestyle is the fastest swimming stroke, swum face-down with an alternating arm pull and flutter kick — the stroke most people picture when they think of swimming.
- Skate (Freestyle)Skate skiing pushes off angled skis in a V pattern, like ice skating, on firm groomed snow — the faster of the two main techniques.
- BackstrokeBackstroke is swum face-up with an alternating arm pull and flutter kick — the one competitive stroke where you breathe freely because your face stays out of the water.
- Speed ClimbingA timed format where climbers ascend a route as fast as possible, most recognizably as a head-to-head race on a standardized competition wall.
- Freestyle WrestlingAn Olympic wrestling style where wrestlers may attack the legs and use holds below the waist to take down and pin their opponent.
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How this page is maintained
- Content type
- Technique
- Provenance
- Tier A — evergreen educational
- Verified external sources
- 0
- Content updated
- 2026-07-09
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