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
There are several persons on this site that are better backstroke champions than I am. but . . .
I remember as a youth being made fun of because I did not breath with my arm pulls. Since then I coordinate my breaths, mostly because I think it helps smooth out my stroke. Backstroke is fun because you can get lots of air, and I think that is why I find it easier to even split my 200 backstroke than my 200 free or 200 fly. On the other hand, it does not seem to make it any easier to take six fly kicks off of the walls. When I find myself breathing without regard to the position of my arms, I know I am approaching the final stages of fatigue.
The one downside that I can think of to synchronized breathing is that it may cover bad form. I have seen several swimmers of backstroke that breath at a particular time of their stroke because at other times their face is under water. You should work at keeping your head position steady, with your mouth always open to the air. If water does cover your face it is probably because of bad form, at least if the water is not too rough.
There are several persons on this site that are better backstroke champions than I am. but . . .
I remember as a youth being made fun of because I did not breath with my arm pulls. Since then I coordinate my breaths, mostly because I think it helps smooth out my stroke. Backstroke is fun because you can get lots of air, and I think that is why I find it easier to even split my 200 backstroke than my 200 free or 200 fly. On the other hand, it does not seem to make it any easier to take six fly kicks off of the walls. When I find myself breathing without regard to the position of my arms, I know I am approaching the final stages of fatigue.
The one downside that I can think of to synchronized breathing is that it may cover bad form. I have seen several swimmers of backstroke that breath at a particular time of their stroke because at other times their face is under water. You should work at keeping your head position steady, with your mouth always open to the air. If water does cover your face it is probably because of bad form, at least if the water is not too rough.
