I am by no means a natural backstroker (my backstroke is my slowest stroke by a good 2-3 seconds per 50m). I have now twice swum a 5K open water swim breaststroke and have decided to do the same swim next year backstroke. (Why? because I can't yet swim a 5K fly and freestyle bores me. :)
So...
1. When I swim back, I find I want to breathe in time with my arms. I generally breathe out every time an arm hits the water. This obviously leads to a nearly panting breathing rhythm. I am a musician in my spare time and find that breathing at a natural rhythm in my backstroke makes my arms want to line up with that rhythm (thereby getting slower). How do backstrokers breathe, anyhow?
2. What should the pull be like underwater?
3. What one thing is likely to improve my speed? (I know you haven't seen me swim backstroke, but picture a graduate of a typical 'learn to swim' program and you're pretty much accurate. :)
Thanks,
Heather, wannabe backstroker (up to 800m continuous backstroke)
Parents
Former Member
Originally posted by HeatherCW
1. When I swim back, I find I want to breathe in time with my arms. I generally breathe out every time an arm hits the water. This obviously leads to a nearly panting breathing rhythm. I am a musician in my spare time and find that breathing at a natural rhythm in my backstroke makes my arms want to line up with that rhythm (thereby getting slower). How do backstrokers breathe, anyhow?
I'm not all that conscious of how I breathe when I'm doing backstroke. There's no particular reason why it has to be coordinated with your stroke.
2. What should the pull be like underwater?
Probably not the way you expect it to be. While your arm goes overhead during your recovery, when you look at it underwater, you're likely to find that your forearm is really sort of grabbing to the side of your body.
3. What one thing is likely to improve my speed? (I know you haven't seen me swim backstroke, but picture a graduate of a typical 'learn to swim' program and you're pretty much accurate. :)
The single most common mistake I've seen swimmers make is that of holding their head too high, causing their legs to drop. Instead, you want to lean back in the water until the water line is at your chin and the edges of your goggles, and you feel your hips rising to the surface. Your chin should be tilted slightly toward your chest. One of the things I focus on when I'm swimming backstroke is feeling air blowing across my belly button, because when that happens, I know I'm leaning back far enough.
Hope this helps!
Bob
Originally posted by HeatherCW
1. When I swim back, I find I want to breathe in time with my arms. I generally breathe out every time an arm hits the water. This obviously leads to a nearly panting breathing rhythm. I am a musician in my spare time and find that breathing at a natural rhythm in my backstroke makes my arms want to line up with that rhythm (thereby getting slower). How do backstrokers breathe, anyhow?
I'm not all that conscious of how I breathe when I'm doing backstroke. There's no particular reason why it has to be coordinated with your stroke.
2. What should the pull be like underwater?
Probably not the way you expect it to be. While your arm goes overhead during your recovery, when you look at it underwater, you're likely to find that your forearm is really sort of grabbing to the side of your body.
3. What one thing is likely to improve my speed? (I know you haven't seen me swim backstroke, but picture a graduate of a typical 'learn to swim' program and you're pretty much accurate. :)
The single most common mistake I've seen swimmers make is that of holding their head too high, causing their legs to drop. Instead, you want to lean back in the water until the water line is at your chin and the edges of your goggles, and you feel your hips rising to the surface. Your chin should be tilted slightly toward your chest. One of the things I focus on when I'm swimming backstroke is feeling air blowing across my belly button, because when that happens, I know I'm leaning back far enough.
Hope this helps!
Bob
