What is an open turn in swimming?

Open turn or simply, touch turn is a special swimming turn that allows swimmers to maximize their speed when swimming 50-100 meter distances or longer. Open turn is used when swimming breastroke or butterfly strokes.

Open turn is a swimming turning technique that involves you touch the swimming pool wall with your both hands, then reversing direction before pushing off the wall with your feet into a streamline position.

Can Open Turn can be used on all swim strokes?

No. Open turn can be used only for freestyle, backstroke and parts of IM swimming events.

Backstroke and freestyle swim strokes are not compatible with open turn. Instead, backstroke and freestyle uses Tumble Turn technique.

What are two main types of swimming turns?

There are two main swimming turns:

1. Tumble Turn (or Flip Turn).
2. Open Turn (or Touch Turn).

In competitive swimming, tumble turn is only used when swimming backstroke and freestyle. Open turn is used when swimming breastroke and butterfly.

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