The swimming turn significantly contributes to overall race performance. Whilst the importance of the turn is well established within the literature, the biomechanical parameters that are most important to turn performance remain unclear. Furthermore, the extent to which individual differences influence these performance parameters is unknown. There were two aims of this study. The first was to identify the key biomechanical parameters that influence freestyle and butterfly turn performance within an elite population. The second was to identify how performance parameters differ between individuals. The first aim of the study was met through analysis of retrospective data collected from the Wetplate Analysis System. This system was a proprietary system developed by the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) and measured 27 parameters associated with swimming turn performance. The final dataset used for analysis consisted of 39 male freestyle turns, 41 female freestyle turns, 21 male butterfly turns and 23 female butterfly turns from an elite population. Regression analysis was used to identify the biomechanical parameters that contribute most to turn performance. Analysis of the male freestyle turn found mass to be the best predictor of turn performance. Average power per kg and mass were found to be significant predictors of turn performance for the female freestyle turn. Analysis of the male butterfly turn identified distance at point of surfacing as the sole predictor of turn performance. Distance at point of surfacing and average acceleration were identified to be important to female butterfly turn performance. The investigation of individual differences involved the analysis of turn data from eight individual swimmers. Statistical procedures utilised during group-based assessment were replicated during individual analysis. Analysis revealed that the parameters of importance differed between all eight athletes and to the parameters identified during group-based analysis. Results of the present study highlight the need to adapt current elite-level training practices to accommodate for individual differences in turn technique. This will increase the efficiency of prescribed interventions and assist in maximising improvement made to turn performance.
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