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?
Parents
Former Member
Another thought on the backstroke breathing. (other than that there is too much else going on with the stroke to even worry about it)
I find that it is impossible to take a deep breath, from the gut, while swimming fully stretched out on my back. In other words I get about half my fill of fresh air with every breath. This encourages me to leave my regular breathing pattern (one breath per stroke cycle) and to breathe more frequently.
I remember a story about a runner asking about whether or not he should breathe through his nose or his mouth. The answer was that it doesn't really matter whether he uses his nose or his mouth and that he should breathe through his ears if that is what it takes to keep going. I suppose that backstroke gives us the same luxury as running...as long as you don't hyperventilate.
Another thought on the backstroke breathing. (other than that there is too much else going on with the stroke to even worry about it)
I find that it is impossible to take a deep breath, from the gut, while swimming fully stretched out on my back. In other words I get about half my fill of fresh air with every breath. This encourages me to leave my regular breathing pattern (one breath per stroke cycle) and to breathe more frequently.
I remember a story about a runner asking about whether or not he should breathe through his nose or his mouth. The answer was that it doesn't really matter whether he uses his nose or his mouth and that he should breathe through his ears if that is what it takes to keep going. I suppose that backstroke gives us the same luxury as running...as long as you don't hyperventilate.
