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Back to Breast Crossover Turn: Video and Drill

5/19/2014

by Russell Mark // National Team High Performance Consultant

The crossover turn is the fastest back-to-breast transition, used by mostly all U.S. Olympians, such as 200 IM World Record Holder Ariana Kukors seen above. 

At minimum, it is 0.3 seconds faster than a traditional open turn. On the middle turn of a 200 free race, would you do an open turn when everyone else does a flip turn? For the same reason, you should strongly consider incorporating a crossover turn into your arsenal of skills. 

The most common reasons why people don't do the crossover turn are because of the greater level of difficulty and inability to get a breath on the wall. 

Interestingly, those same facts apply to freestyle flip turns too, yet everyone does those. 

Simply put, the crossover turn is a sideways flip turn:

1. With your last backstroke arm stroke, extend toward the wall and roll onto your side. The extended arm is closest to the surface. The other arm remains at your side. 
2. Be sure not to roll past vertical onto your stomach before touching the wall. It helps to keep your shoulder behind your ear. 
3. Touch the wall and throw your head toward your knees to do a forward somersault. 

Practice enough touching the wall with both right and left arms to be equally comfortable and proficient. 

A great drill comes from 2000 Olympian and National Junior Team Coach, Tommy Hannan. Use the lane line on the last 2 strokes to face the body and flip the body in the proper direction.