OK, I am relatively new to serious swimming - just over a year. I recently started to really focus on my pullout for breaststroke. Prior to that I would just push off, and pop to the surface as part of my first stroke. No real pullout. Now that I am doing a pullout, I have a problem.
I push off the wall and am going fast. As I slow down, I do my keyhole shaped pull and go faster again. So far so good. Then, as I try to bring my hands up and my legs up to do my underwater kick - trouble. I slow down to the point of almost stopping.:confused: Then I do my underwater kick, followed by a regular pull, popping up to breathe.
What are some common mistakes that newbies make during the pullout that would cause this near stopping. I feel like it is costing me a good two seconds on each turn. I know none of you have seen me swim, but if I get some general things to look for, I can hopefully improve. Thanks.
Former Member
Well, I even swam competive breasttroke as a kid and forget how it was done to a certain degree and look up in a book. The timing on the pull out and the kick is a problem for new people or people who had not did it for about 25 years such as myself. You need to bring your hands back and when you bring your hands forward then do the kick.
Former Member
as the above post says, it may be in the timing of your kick - sounds like you have a dead spot between pull and kick. Try thinking of pulling your heels/legs up for the kick sooner. Turn your feet out at the last moment before kicking so you don't drag yourself down.
Also think about keeping your hands underneath and close to your body on recovery to reduce drag.
How about your head position - is it too far down? If so, you will be too deep in the water for your first pull after the pull out - another potential dead spot.
Former Member
The things to keep in mind are:
1) Keep your arms close to your body and your elbows narrow as you recover. It's okay to cross your arms as you recover to keep the elbows narrow.
2) Try to keep your feet and legs in the shadow of your body as you pull them in in preparation for the kick.
Bob
Former Member
Timing is everything on the breaststroke underwater pulldown. One neat fact, most people are faster during the first 2 seconds of the underwater than they are at any time in a race.
I use the following timing:
50 *** 2 seconds, pull down, one second kick to the surface
100 *** 3 seconds, pull down, two seconds kick to the surface
200 *** 3 seconds, pull down, three seconds kick to the surface
The keyhole pull down is just one form. I prefer a straight pulldown with the hands ending up between the legs. A narrow kick is very important, a wide kick can stop you flat. The legs pulling back is the stopper, so narrowing it down is less resistance.
I have all sorts of stuff you might enjoy at www. breaststroke.info
Coach Wayne McCauley
ASCA Level 5
