Turn Speed Meaning in Swimming

Turn speed is the amount of time it takes a swimmer to transition from one lap to the next at the wall. This includes the approach, the rotation (flip or open turn), and the powerful push-off back into the water. Improving turn speed is one of the easiest ways to drop significant time without increasing swimming effort. A swimmer wins the race because their turn speed was faster than the opponent in the next lane. Coaches use stopwatches to measure the time from five meters in to five meters out. A fast turn keeps momentum high and allows the swimmer to utilize the ‘free’ energy from the wall.