I'm been working on it again. The rules state that you can do a single pull or double pull in order to execute the turn. When you have went from being on your back or side to front is one front crawl pull use to be able to execute the turn. Sometimes, I don't get close enough to the wall and head up with two which is illegal. Also, from back to ***, when you touch with one hand at the wall after that you can pull underwater and come up breaststroke. I almost was unable to breath after that moved in a 200 Im in practice. One asking these questions because I thinking maybe I might do a 200 IM in a meet and don't want to be DQ because of illegal turns on the backstroke or back to ***.
Has there been a recent rule change? As far as I know, the backstroke turn, as the rules currently dictate, has been in place since approx. the late '80s. I could be wrong...
I find that a spin turn from back to *** works pretty well, but does require pretty good breath holding ability!
The easiest way of thinking about the IM transitions turns (Fly-back, back-***, and ***-Free) is to think of each one as if you are finishing the event. For example from back to ***, you must remain on your back until you touch the wall (NO backstroke flip turn) and you must push-off on your ***. Fly to back and *** to free require a two hand touch. For more specifics, you can look at Part 1 of the rulebook. An on-line copy can be found on the USMS web site.
Adding to the question, I am new to IM also. Is there someplace to get good descriptions of each turn? They all seem so different when you are going from one stroke to the other than when you are turning but continuing with the same stroke.:confused:
Every "good" backstroker I've seen executes a corkscrew like maneuver on the last recovery. This puts the swimmer on his or her *** at which point the recovered arm is pulled through and the swimmer somersaults just like in a freestyle turn.
For the back-to-*** IM transition I've seen several techniques including: a normal open turn, a spin turn (like the old backstroke turn), and sort of a backwards flip where the hand touches and the swimmer throws his legs over his head putting him on his ***. I think the open turn is slowest, but it does allow you to get a little extra breath in at the wall.
I can try to explain what a double arm pull is in regards to an intermediate turn in the backstroke.
Legal: You are on the back and your last recovery (arm over the water) you leave that arm forward, turn to the front--and AS YOU are turning bring the arm that had been at your side forward and it looks like a front crawl stroke. When you are prone you then have two arms forward and you use both arms to execute a flip turn. That is a double pull. Note: Once you are prone you have to start those arms in the pull to the flip turn otherwise you will be kicking without continuous turning action.
Illegal: You are on the back and your last recovery you turn over and that arm continues to pull to the waist. You are all the way over prone now, then stroke the other arm like in front crawl and turn.
The trick is to do that front crawl like stroke AS YOU ARE turning over and not doing it after you are all the way over to the stomach.
