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 ...
Somehow I see an adults only section to this forum being added
For those of us who have coached all ages of swimmers, the only difference between an 8 year old and a Masters is the Masters have credit cards.
Us oldsters have better developed calves too.
I think Rich's earlier post actually scared Allen so much he fled the scene of the crime.
You have to be a natural at breastroke to be good at it. And not a whole lot of people are naturals at it. Thats why everyone hates it. I hate backstroke but thats just because my body is not made to swim backstroke.
I always thought that Butterfly was the stroke that everyone hated and that you had to be born with a natural ability to do it. :p
I think everyone is born having a best stroke/strokes. Its just the least amout of people are born breastrokers. It really comes down to gentics more than coaching as to what your best stroke is. But as you grow, things change. I was born a sprint breastroker but ended up being a sprint freestyler, breaststroke is my secondary stroke now.
Oh, No,
You have to be born a natural breaststroker? I'd never heard that you had to be born with certain genetics to be one stroke or the other. Are you sure? How was that figured out? I am not a breastroker, but I certainly do like the stroke and since I was above average swimming it, was I born an above average breaststroker, but not quite elite?
I was an above-average freestyler, then switched to backstroke and loved it, absolutely loved it, many records made, and especially only being able to see where I had been and not where I was going, gave more intrigue to it. And now I am a distance freestyler.
So was I born a natural backstroker but now am a natural distance freestyler? I'm not goading you here, I just did not know that we were born to swim one better than the other.:dunno:
Donna
You gotta act and think young to feel and stay young. I was worried for awhile that one certain adult had left us, but I see he's back in screamingly funny childlike form. :joker: :joker: :wave: :wave:
Warren:
You looked like a natual backstroker in that video you showed us of your 50 free. How can you be so tall and not be at least decent at back? I thought tall breaststrokers were very yesterday.
I'm 6' feet tall, thats not very tall for swimming.
I read an article on usaswimming.org about swimming and genetics, it had all kinds of facts like breastorkers can jump higher than other strokers, butterflys have longer arms, Backstokers have longer torsos.
I will try to dig this article up but I dont know if I will be able to find it because I dont remeber the name of it.
Why did this thread get resurrected? Hate is too strong a word to use among swim friends.I don't even hate backstroke. Some of my best friends are backstrokers(poor misguided souls:rofl: ) Probably if I was tall and my feet turned in instead of out I might like another stroke. We need all 4 strokes for the Medley Relay,so we need to get along:hug:
I do not know why this thread was resurrected. You and others had already given me such good breaststroke advice. I've been trying to take it, to no avail. Since we've agreed to team up to set the "WR" in the 100 IM, I'm glad you don't "hate" backstrokers. :rofl: Of course, you may be better off teaming up with one of those darn elite (unnamed) backstrokers in the NW Zone than me. :rofl: But I am not a poor misguided soul. I cannot help it if I have hyperextended elbows. SwimmieAvsFan told me it was a good thing for backstokers.
I have also been told that all natural born breaststrokers walk with their feet turned outward. That's how my nasty daughter walks. But not me. I'm stuck with fly/back/free. But I'm glad you don't hate me for it. Of course, you know I defy conventional backstoke wisdom by being very short... :rofl: Plus, like you, I am TI-ing and doing very little yardage at the moment.
Plus, since there are so many backstrokers on my own team, I'm always doing fly (that other short axis stroke) on either the women's or mixed medley relay ...
There are three types of swimmers, those who are good at arms and legs opposed in motion like free and back, those who do arms and legs together like fly and breaststroke, and those unique individuals like Michael Phelps and Tracy Caulkins who do everything well.
I love butterfly, but have always been better at breaststroke.
Coffee is truly a wonder drug. It helps my memory, it helps my Asthma, it helps my swimming. It has helped me get raises at work, to get straight A's in post college classes, and it helps me get up each and every morning.
When you get OLD:snore: it can take a long time to get up. Chest and nasal very congested. Eyes nearly glued shut. Bones aching. I pull the SalonPas off my shoulders and back, and take a hit on the wonder drug. One cup of a good Hawaiian or Columbian brew and I am back in the human race again.:coffee:
OMG, Wayne, I know you're a breaststroker, but other than that minor problem, we are in major agreement about liquid ingestion habits. I can't remember anything before my morning cup of java ... or three. Coffee is a true wonder drug, and I'm not giving it up. :coffee:
I'm just not sure about your other little theory about the strokes. I'm not good at everything. Just fly/back and 50 free. I do IMs, but my splits are horrendous. So that leaves me out of every category you mentioned. But I'm hoping Allen still likes me!
Did I mention her feet, huge feet perfect for breaststroke.
Whp says breaststrokers are not born:drink:
I thought Brendan Hansen had 11" hands! Who is "whp?" Is that my typo? Some darn forumer said breaststrokers "were born." It must be that Stark guy, braggin' again. Or Peter Cruise. I just couldn't figure out how I bore one. But I've been told repeatedly, it's a recessive/progressive gene. :rofl:
