Turnover Meaning in Swimming

Turnover refers to the speed at which a swimmer completes their arm cycles. A high turnover means the arms are moving very quickly through the recovery and pull phases of the stroke. This is essential for short sprints where raw power and frequency are more important than long glides. An athlete increases their turnover during the final ten meters of a hundred-meter freestyle race. Finding the right balance between a fast turnover and a long, efficient pull is the secret to elite speed. If the turnover is too fast without a good ‘catch,’ the swimmer will simply slip through the water without moving forward.