How long did it take you to learn flip turns? (Page 2)

I taught myself as an adult using these same videos! The noodle really helped define where my arms should be.

I had to do the same as you are doing - 10 min at the end of every swim and I DID NOT learn in one or two tries. I kept coming out of the turn in the wrong position and running into the wall on my right. I also had a few instances of coming out too deep and running into the bottom of the pool. Fun ha. 

I finally realized so much of it was about my head position and got it straightened out. I suffered some back issues and could not comfortably flip on every turn for a few years right after learning. Finally got that worked out and started flip turns for every turn last year. I had to fight through that feeling of losing my last breath before the turn because now I had conditioned myself NOT to flip on every turn!  I set a goal of swimming I think a 500 with flip turn every time and that was it, never looked back again.

If I can do it you can do it!

The point is that development of any skills that make you a better swimmer, cyclist, or swimmer will make you a better triathlete.

It's no problem to not to flip turns. 

I actually LOVE when people in masters don't flip turn - that's a guaranteed free 0.5-1.0 seconds at every wall push that I gain on them, effort free! 

But honestly, if I could say I swam 1:20/100yds with flips  or without flips, I'd def take WITHOUT, as it means I'd be swimming the equivalent of 1:17/100 for me due to the lost 2-3 seconds on the walls. 

I know there are actually quite a few forumites who swim <1:20/100 with no flips, but at least in the 3 masters groups I've been to, and at literally every pool I've been at, there have been zero swimmers going that fast who do not flip. IN fact, I have never seen any swimmer going faster than 1:30/100 not doing flip turns, myself, althogh I have a vague recollection on the forums that there are a few who say they swim that fast yet do not know how to flip. 

In masters, one of the best ways I use if the swimmer ahead is just a HAIR slower than me, and we're in the middle of a set, is to just stop flip turning so we're back to the same speed.