Back Stroke Breathing

Former Member
Former Member
I know that it is normal to breathe in on one arm recovery and out on the other but does anyone think it is necessary to practice alternating on which arm recovery you breathe in/out. Like in Freestyle non-bilateral breathers get used to breathing in on one side which can upset the stroke, but is it true for back stroke too if you get used to breathing in on the recovery of a certain arm? Does it make much difference?
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  • Former Member
    Former Member
    To answer your question, in my opinion it really should not affect your backstroke if you tend to breath on one side versus the other. Freestyle seems to be the only stroke where one would develop a "lope" in the stroke in which there's an assymetry due to breathing towards one side only. I thought about this one for a moment and notice that I inhale on the right arm recovery and exhale when the left arm is out of the water. Backstrokers I think have to pay more attention to holding a breathing pattern due to the convenience of having ample opportunity to take in as much air as they want. It's very easy to over-inhale which will completely throw the stroke rythm out of whack. I say it's better to find a tempo where you breathe and stroke to a sychronized rythm. (And perhaps get in a few quick breaths right before heading into the turn. I would have to say that this allows for a longer opportunity to stay under water and dolphin kick off the walls.) Maybe some of the others might have a different approach. What do you say Phil Arcuni? You're a backstroking champ. Regards, Val.
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  • Former Member
    Former Member
    To answer your question, in my opinion it really should not affect your backstroke if you tend to breath on one side versus the other. Freestyle seems to be the only stroke where one would develop a "lope" in the stroke in which there's an assymetry due to breathing towards one side only. I thought about this one for a moment and notice that I inhale on the right arm recovery and exhale when the left arm is out of the water. Backstrokers I think have to pay more attention to holding a breathing pattern due to the convenience of having ample opportunity to take in as much air as they want. It's very easy to over-inhale which will completely throw the stroke rythm out of whack. I say it's better to find a tempo where you breathe and stroke to a sychronized rythm. (And perhaps get in a few quick breaths right before heading into the turn. I would have to say that this allows for a longer opportunity to stay under water and dolphin kick off the walls.) Maybe some of the others might have a different approach. What do you say Phil Arcuni? You're a backstroking champ. Regards, Val.
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