All right, I just read the rule on the backstroke turn and couldn't figure out what was being said. I have been away from swim meets for 15 years so I think I saw some changes in telivised compititions. It seems that a freestyle flip turn is being used. Is this legal in masters swimming. I started doing what I saw on TV and it seems to be a great turn. I always hated the old style backstroke turn.
If it is legal, could someone breakdown the rule in simple terms so that I dont get DQed. I don't have a formal coach at this time.
Thanks
Parents
Former Member
Phil M.,
I would have to agree with you that the majority of backstrokers push off the wall face up. I happen to twist slightly during the flip so that I come off the wall in more of a side lying position. As a freestyle sprinter I've always found that the faster I can get to my face down position the sooner I can start swimming. Some folks push off the wall on their back and have to 'corkscrew' over to get their belly facing the pool bottom again. (I think this could cost 4 to 5 tenths per turn which adds up to just over a second on a hundred yard swim.)
In any case, it seems that I've incorporated some of my freestyle turn technique into the backstroke flip. I imagine with superior conditioning anyone can stay submerged and dolphin away, while most of the land animals like myself are scrambling to get air as soon as possible.
Watch this guy's turn, and you'll see what I mean about the side lying dolphin position for freestyle racing. I'm not sure who he is, but it's evident that he's smooth , efficent, and probably pretty fast. It takes a couple of minutes to downlaod.
(www.swim.ee/.../Pjotr01-01.mpg)
And Dave, I guess Will Smith's kids are the few remaining that use the expression jiggy. I'll have my kids bring me up to speed with the latest.
Phil M.,
I would have to agree with you that the majority of backstrokers push off the wall face up. I happen to twist slightly during the flip so that I come off the wall in more of a side lying position. As a freestyle sprinter I've always found that the faster I can get to my face down position the sooner I can start swimming. Some folks push off the wall on their back and have to 'corkscrew' over to get their belly facing the pool bottom again. (I think this could cost 4 to 5 tenths per turn which adds up to just over a second on a hundred yard swim.)
In any case, it seems that I've incorporated some of my freestyle turn technique into the backstroke flip. I imagine with superior conditioning anyone can stay submerged and dolphin away, while most of the land animals like myself are scrambling to get air as soon as possible.
Watch this guy's turn, and you'll see what I mean about the side lying dolphin position for freestyle racing. I'm not sure who he is, but it's evident that he's smooth , efficent, and probably pretty fast. It takes a couple of minutes to downlaod.
(www.swim.ee/.../Pjotr01-01.mpg)
And Dave, I guess Will Smith's kids are the few remaining that use the expression jiggy. I'll have my kids bring me up to speed with the latest.
