Open Turn Hand-Touch Rhythm

Breaststroke and butterfly must touch the wall with both hands simultaneously per FINA rules, so flip turns are not allowed. The so-called Open Turn uses the fulcrum provided by the moment both hands touch the wall to quickly complete a 180-degree turn and push off. Elite swimmers can complete the turn and begin pushing off within 0.7–0.9 seconds after touching the wall.

1. The “Hard” vs. “Soft” Hand Touch

There are two styles of touching the wall:

2. The 5 Key Phases of the Turn (timeline based on a 50m breaststroke)

1. Approach phase (1 meter before the wall): sprint after the final pull, no breathing
2. Moment of touch (t=0): both hands touch the wall simultaneously, wrists slightly flexed as a buffer
3. Tuck and curl (t=0.1–0.3s): pull knees toward the chest, hips sink
4. Rotate to the side (t=0.3–0.6s): lift the head sideways to breathe, one hand leaves the wall and swings back
5. Feet on the wall and push off (t=0.6–0.9s): soles planted firmly on the wall, hands meet in a streamline

3. Two Schools of Thought on Breathing Timing

• Elite school (Adam Peaty school): take only one breath during the turn, the entire motion is lightning-fast
• Conservative school: take a big, forceful breath at the highest point of the turn to ensure ample oxygen for the next lap

For the 100m breaststroke, one big breath is recommended; for the 200m breaststroke, consider taking two.

4. The Particularity of the Butterfly Open Turn

The final arm pull before touching the wall in butterfly is critical:

• If the pull is too early: the hands miss the wall, requiring an extra small pull, wasting 0.3 seconds
• If the pull is too late: the body hits the wall and cannot generate force
• Optimal timing: begin the final pull 0.5–0.7 meters from the wall so the hands touch at a near-horizontal angle

5. Underwater Actions After Pushing Off

Per FINA rules:

• Breaststroke: after pushing off, one full pull + one full kick + one dolphin kick is allowed (added in 2014)
• Butterfly: underwater dolphin kicks are permitted, but the swimmer must surface before 15 meters

The underwater “pull out” in breaststroke is crucial, propelling the swimmer 7–8 meters in 4–5 seconds:

6. Training Focus Points

• Wall-touch feel training: attach a sponge to the wall, swim in with eyes closed and feel the reaction force of the touch
• Single-hand touch drills: practice one hand at a time (left and right), then combine into both hands
• Video analysis: use a GoPro to film the underwater angle and check whether the knee angle is consistent when the feet plant on the wall

Conclusion

Although the Open Turn has more rule restrictions, details determine success or failure. A 200m butterfly has 3 turns; saving 0.2 seconds each adds up to 0.6 seconds—often the difference between gold and silver.

Related Reading

• Breaststroke Turn Technique: Two-Hand Touch Rules and Quick Turnaround
• Refining Turn Technique: Hand-Foot Coordination in Flip Turns and Wall Push-Off Power Optimization
• Comprehensive Comparison of Turn Techniques Across Four Strokes: The Art of Touch, Flip, and Rhythm
• Flip Turn Frame-by-Frame Breakdown: Touch Distance, Hip Tuck Timing, and Push-Off Angle