Who's doing both back and *** at masters meets? Who's good at both? Or neither? Or good at one, but not the other?
Ande thinks it's rare to be good at both. Frank thinks it's somewhat unusual, but not rare or impossible. You vote. Multiple choices permissible. Comments appreciated.
Personally, I suck at breastroke. I'm decent at back. I think they are usually mutually exclusive. Most breaststrokers I know suck at back and vice versa. Not sure if this is explained by the disparate body types that typically are associated with the stokes, or by ankle flexibility or it's just a fluke. (I have a breaststroke body type and flexible ankles and still can't do it at all. I do not have a backstroker's body type, but have hyperflexible elbows and shoulders and seem passable at it.) I clearly need a breaststroke clinic. Would be happy to go to one. Or get private lessons.
I don't know how or why I became good at backstroke and breaststroke. I remember winning races in both strokes as far back as age 12. None of the four coaches I had pre-masters allowed me to seriously train backstroke, which explains why I am now swimming PRs in that stroke.
It's just a personal preference and depends on what you learn and like as you progress through swimming. There were a few breaststrokers who were ranked high in the country in the 50 free (unheard of), and 400 IM specialists who could take down a lot of people in the 100 free. Again, it depends on preference and how you train.
I don't know how or why I became good at backstroke and breaststroke. I remember winning races in both strokes as far back as age 12. None of the four coaches I had pre-masters allowed me to seriously train backstroke, which explains why I am now swimming PRs in that stroke.
It's just a personal preference and depends on what you learn and like as you progress through swimming. There were a few breaststrokers who were ranked high in the country in the 50 free (unheard of), and 400 IM specialists who could take down a lot of people in the 100 free. Again, it depends on preference and how you train.
