How do you learn a tumble turn?
Learn it in pieces. First get comfortable doing a forward somersault in the middle of the pool while breathing out through your nose, then practise somersaulting close to the wall so your feet land on it, and only then add the push-off on your back and the roll onto your front. Most people get a scrappy version in a few sessions and a smooth one over a few weeks.
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A tumble turn (or flip turn) looks like a magic trick from the next lane: one moment someone is swimming towards the wall, the next they are gliding away from it without having stopped. It is a learnable trick, and like most tricks, it is a sequence of very ordinary parts.
You do not need one to enjoy lap swimming. Open turns, where you touch the wall, breathe and push off, are perfectly good. But tumble turns are fun, they keep a swim flowing, and learning one is a satisfying little project.
Step 1: the somersault, away from the wall
Start in the middle of the pool, in water deep enough that you will not touch the bottom.
- Push off and glide a little, arms by your sides.
- Tuck your chin to your chest, pull your knees in and roll forward, using your hands to help you round.
- Hum or breathe out through your nose the whole time you are upside down. This is the single most important habit. It keeps water out of your nose, and that stinging feeling is the reason most people give up.
Do a few, stand up, laugh, do a few more. Once a somersault from standing feels easy, try one from a few strokes of front crawl: swim, take a breath, then tuck and roll.
If you find putting your face in the water uncomfortable, start with getting comfortable in the water first. Tumble turns will feel much easier afterwards.
Step 2: add the wall
Now swim towards the wall and somersault when you are roughly an arm's length or a bit more away. The black T-shaped mark on the pool floor near the wall is your cue in most pools. Your aim at this stage is simply to finish the roll with your feet landing flat on the wall, knees bent, lying on your back.
Too far away and your feet miss the wall; too close and you will be cramped with your knees by your ears. Both are normal. Adjust by half a stroke and try again. Count your strokes from the T so the timing becomes automatic.
Step 3: push off on your back
With your feet on the wall, push off on your back, arms stretched overhead, hands together. Do not worry about turning over yet. Just push and glide on your back, breathing out through your nose.
Step 4: roll to your front
Finally, as you glide off the wall, rotate onto your front, then start kicking and take your first stroke. Some swimmers twist a little during the push, some after it; experiment and find what feels natural.
Common problems
- Water up the nose: you are not breathing out. Hum louder.
- Dizzy or disorientated: take it slowly, rest at the wall between attempts, and stop for the day if it persists.
- Out of breath: take a breath a couple of strokes before the turn, not right before it. Do not hold your breath; breathe out steadily.
- Feet miss the wall: start the roll later.
- Squashed against the wall: start the roll earlier.
Practise politely
Practise in a quiet lane, at a quiet time, or in a lane where people are happy for you to stop and start. Our guide to lane swimming etiquette has the unwritten rules. Never tumble turn in a shallow lane where you might touch the bottom or in a busy lane where someone may be resting at the wall.
FAQ
Do I need to be a fast swimmer to learn tumble turns?
No. You need to be comfortable swimming front crawl for a length and happy upside down in the water. Speed has nothing to do with it.
Should I use a nose clip?
It can help in the early somersault stage. Many swimmers drop it once breathing out through the nose becomes a habit.
How long does it take to learn?
It varies, but most adults can do a rough version after a few focused sessions and a smoother one after a few weeks of practising a handful of turns each swim.
Can I tumble turn in a shallow pool?
Only if the water is deep enough that you will not touch the bottom during the roll. If in doubt, use an open turn instead and follow the pool's rules.
Written by the Zestasy editors. General information for curious adults, not medical, nutrition or training advice.