I can't seem to get a straight answer to a couple of basic breaststroke questions, despite checking dozens of sources.
What would be a typical, normal stroke rate (strokes per minute) for a novice breaststroker who's just interested in getting to the other end of the pool, not racing, to aim for? Novice level, please, NOT some world record race pace.
Also, I read a lot about "driving" or "moving" one's hips forward during the stroke. Is that the same motion and using the same muscles as doing a stomach crunch (although upside-down), or is it something else? Why is it done, in which part of the stroke is it done, and when is it undone? Which variants (flat, wave, recreational) is it for?
Alan
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So Ande suggests 2-3 seconds (20-30 strokes/minute) and Allen suggests 1-3 seconds (20-60 strokes/minute), and the swimmer can control it by varying the duration of the glide phase and/or moving the arms and legs (and head and hips and whatever else) faster or slower during the non-glide phases. That's a lot of experimentation to do, but that's a fun part of swimming!
Would I be right if I said that "moving the hips backward" (what goes forward must go backward for a periodic motion such as a swimming stroke) would be equivalent to hollowing the lower back, or, if standing, sticking the butt out?
Alan
So Ande suggests 2-3 seconds (20-30 strokes/minute) and Allen suggests 1-3 seconds (20-60 strokes/minute), and the swimmer can control it by varying the duration of the glide phase and/or moving the arms and legs (and head and hips and whatever else) faster or slower during the non-glide phases. That's a lot of experimentation to do, but that's a fun part of swimming!
Would I be right if I said that "moving the hips backward" (what goes forward must go backward for a periodic motion such as a swimming stroke) would be equivalent to hollowing the lower back, or, if standing, sticking the butt out?
Alan
