The latest threads clearly reveal that the vast majority of masters swimmers wish breaststroke did not exist (except Peter, Allen, Aquafeisty, and a possiblely experimenting SCY freestyler). So why does everyone hate breaststroke? :mad:
I'll go first. I hated it when I was young because it was too slow, I never learned how to do it right, and I never learned the wave action because it didn't exist when I was young. I can't seem do get the timing right now. And I have no excuse. Unlike my shoulder, my knees are fully intact. Not sure I have the gumption or time to put in 100,000 yards for a complete overhaul on a stroke I don't swim in meets. But I'd like to be able to fake it in IMs ...
Not sure if 'most' masters swimmers hate ***, but there are several that do...
Personally, I think it's all about the kick. Breaststroke kick is either a natural movement (for me and I would bet just about every breaststroker) or an unnatural movement (for the majority). Breaststroke is the only stroke where the majority of your propulsion comes from the kick. I.e., there is no way you can fake the kick. In the other strokes, the majority of propulsion comes from your arms (yes, yes, there is core strength involved, but in the end your arms and hands are moving more water than your feet and legs.) People without a natural kick can still become very very fast (think Michael Phelps) but usually those swimmers learned *** young, when the body is still flexible and easier to train to do 'unnatural' movements. Plus, as you get older, the body loses flexibility making it harder to 'grip' the water with the instep of your foot and ankle if they don't natually turn that way. And those fast Michael Phelps-like breaststrokers out there trained trained trained. A good streamline, wave, and rhythm can get you very far in ***, even with a so-so or not natural kick. But you have to really work to get these things. How many masters programs are out there that really work and train all 4 strokes? I'm willing to bet the majority of masters programs are very distance freestyle oriented. (Or at least, very freestyle oriented.)
My 2 cents.
FYI, I should mention that my flutterkick and dolphin kick really really really utterly suck...
Not sure if 'most' masters swimmers hate ***, but there are several that do...
Personally, I think it's all about the kick. Breaststroke kick is either a natural movement (for me and I would bet just about every breaststroker) or an unnatural movement (for the majority). Breaststroke is the only stroke where the majority of your propulsion comes from the kick. I.e., there is no way you can fake the kick. In the other strokes, the majority of propulsion comes from your arms (yes, yes, there is core strength involved, but in the end your arms and hands are moving more water than your feet and legs.) People without a natural kick can still become very very fast (think Michael Phelps) but usually those swimmers learned *** young, when the body is still flexible and easier to train to do 'unnatural' movements. Plus, as you get older, the body loses flexibility making it harder to 'grip' the water with the instep of your foot and ankle if they don't natually turn that way. And those fast Michael Phelps-like breaststrokers out there trained trained trained. A good streamline, wave, and rhythm can get you very far in ***, even with a so-so or not natural kick. But you have to really work to get these things. How many masters programs are out there that really work and train all 4 strokes? I'm willing to bet the majority of masters programs are very distance freestyle oriented. (Or at least, very freestyle oriented.)
My 2 cents.
FYI, I should mention that my flutterkick and dolphin kick really really really utterly suck...
