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Turning can be a complicated aspect of swimming, and is a major source of disqualifications. Perfecting turns can take long periods of time. Each stroke has a slightly different procedure for turning. Here is the basic technique for each.
Butterfly
In butterfly, the swimmer approahces the wall with the arms at the end of the recovery - stretched out in front of them. The touch must be made with both hands touching the wall at the same time, and on the same horizontal plane. When touching, the head should be down. When turning, one shoulder lowers, and the opposite arm is brought over the water and around to the front. As it enters the water, the head is in the water, and both arms straighten while the push-off is being done. The swimmer pushes off in a streamlined position.
Backstroke
The first thing to do before attempting a backstroke turn is to figure out your stroke count - this is the number of normal arm strokes it takes you to get to the wall from the flags (5 m. from the wall in a 50 m. pool). Basically what you do is swim normally from the flags and count your strokes, when you are 2 or 3 short of your stroke count, (i.e. If your stroke count is 5, you would turn over after about 2 strokes) turn over onto your stomach using your arm to help (this will look like one freestyle stroke) and do a freestyle flip-turn (below), only pushing off on your back and dolphin-kicking to the surface.
Breaststroke
The breaststroke turn is similar to the one done in butterfly. The touch is made after the recovery, when both arms are extended. The body must remain flat. Then, one shoulder will drop as the other is rotated around over the water. Both arms straighten, and the legs push off in a streamlined position. Breaststroke swimmers are allowed one stroke underwater after each turn and the start (underwater pull-out).
Freestyle
The turn most commonly used in freestyle is the flip-turn. The swimmer glides towards the wall and without touching it, does a forward somersault in front of the wall, rotating to the side slightly at the end. The swimmer will push off the wall with their feet nearly sideways, straighting out while streamlined gliding takes place.
