I will be swimming backstroke in a short-course METERS event. I practice in a short-course YARDS pool and will not have the opportunity to swim in a meters pool until the meet. How do I prepare for the backstroke flip turn? I don't want to get DQ'd for flipping too far from the wall and then trying to somehow maneuver myself to the wall for the turn.
In the yards pool, starting under the flags I need four strokes (the fourth being the beginning of the turn) to hit the turn properly. What would this translate to in meters?
I take one more stroke from the flags to the wall in meters pools than yards pools. That may not be true for everyone, and I'm a lousy backstroker and rarely swim it, but for what it's worth, one more stroke is the difference for me!
My suggestion is getting there in time to warm up and try out the pool, count your strokes under the flags and do a few practice turns before you race. Or if you have the chance to get to a meter pool just once before the meet and work out your distance.
If it's any help I take 13 strokes over 25 mts - and 3 of these are from the flags on into the flip turn.
Swimmer yoube,
I've got the same situation as yourself. We train in a yards pool and there's a short course meters invitational next month.
I think meg has it right on the mark. Take an extra stroke.
I don't know your height, but it seems that on average, a swimmer will travel nearly one body length per stroke. At six foot three...I take two strokes and a flip into the wall upon first glimpse of the flags in a yards pool.
As an experiment for meters,... rather than "stroke stroke flip", Try "stroke, stroke, stroke, flip" as your mantra. Yes I talk to myself when I swim. Good luck!
