When I swim breaststroke, I use the outsweep and insweep type of pull. I don't focus on pulling back at all. I read it somewhere that you should also focus on pulling back. WHen I tried doing that, my hands got stuck and my timing is off. Anyone has any thoughts?
Also, how wide should you pull? I sweep out to 12-15 inches outside my shoulder width, anchor my hands, then start insweep? I am concerned it might be too wide. When I tried anchoring my hands narrower, I don't feel as powerful of an insweep.
Thanks.
This question can't be answered with complete accuracy without answering the,as yet unanswered question,"is force in breaststroke pull primarily lift dominant or drag dominant." If lift dominant the pull is a curving outsweep leading to a curving insweep with the hands pitched out on the outsweep and in on the insweep. If primarily drag dominated the pull should be more catch on the outsweep and then pull back with the palm of the hands pointing back. The Aussie women seem to be taught that the stroke is drag dominant while many men especially Kitajima use a more circular pattern. Experiment and see what works best for you. The trnsition from pull to recovery seems harder with the pull back stroke so I [personally favor the more circular(actually heart shaped)stroke.How wide to have your hands on the outsweep is a function of strength and speed. A rough idea is about the same as your fly pull.
This question can't be answered with complete accuracy without answering the,as yet unanswered question,"is force in breaststroke pull primarily lift dominant or drag dominant." If lift dominant the pull is a curving outsweep leading to a curving insweep with the hands pitched out on the outsweep and in on the insweep. If primarily drag dominated the pull should be more catch on the outsweep and then pull back with the palm of the hands pointing back. The Aussie women seem to be taught that the stroke is drag dominant while many men especially Kitajima use a more circular pattern. Experiment and see what works best for you. The trnsition from pull to recovery seems harder with the pull back stroke so I [personally favor the more circular(actually heart shaped)stroke.How wide to have your hands on the outsweep is a function of strength and speed. A rough idea is about the same as your fly pull.
