The Back-*** Combo?

RE: The Back-*** Combo?

Former Member — Wed, 24 Jan 2007 13:26:55 GMT

So we substitute a lot of single-focal-point whole stroke practice and frequent "peer modeling." Find the kid who does what you're looking for best and have the others watch then "imitate." They're good at imitation. Teaching is wonderful. I love when the kids, (doesn't matter what age) reach that point of understanding and the "light goes on." What a magnificent point in time.

RE: The Back-*** Combo?

Frank Thompson — Wed, 24 Jan 2007 12:50:29 GMT

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. Hi Jeff: There are two breastrokers that I mentioned in the other thread about not being bad backstrokers that were ranked in the top ten in the 50 and 100 Free in the early 1980's NCAA rankings in the 50 and 100 Free. They were also at that time American Record holders in the 200 Yard ***. They are Bill Barrett and Steve Lundquist. Also from the early days of swimming, I believe Walter Spence is another who would be like Barrett and Lundquist. He was one of the 25 people in the other post that had a USMS National Record in both back and ***. Because he had two brothers that were great swimmers, it easy for people to get the guys mixed up and confused with there events. I provided a link to a story of the Spence brothers because they are all inducted in the ISHOF. www.ishof.org/.../67spencebrothers.html

RE: The Back-*** Combo?

Jeff Commings — Wed, 24 Jan 2007 10:18:12 GMT

RE: The Back-*** Combo?

Former Member — Tue, 23 Jan 2007 16:01:59 GMT

Right now, I consider myself an IMer. Back has always been my favorite stroke, followed by *** (I don't have good breath control, so I like strokes where I don't have to worry about getting air). I started off as a backstroker/breaststroker. I recently improved my fly quite a bit, so I think fly is now my best stroke, followed by back, then *** & free. So basically, I'm not a great swimmer, but I like both back & ***.

RE: The Back-*** Combo?

Former Member — Tue, 23 Jan 2007 14:45:40 GMT

Hey Brian I like your motto. Fan of Jon Kabat Zin and/or practitioner of Mindfulness? Terry, Neither, just living by what my college coach used to say. And trying to live in the moment. I definately am a fan of the Random Practice for my High School kids. They can handle and enjoy the variation, especially during IM sets that use a variation of drills. But also in stroke sets that incorporate different drills. It keeps them thinking ahead and allows me to surprise them which leads to a fun and interesting workout. My younger kids can't absorb that much and work more efficiently in Block set workouts. Working on a different skill per day and honing the skill in. Thanks for the response! Brian

RE: The Back-*** Combo?

Former Member — Tue, 23 Jan 2007 14:41:49 GMT

Terry, Would you agree that due to the working of all muscle groups, training with the serial event in mind helps in all forms of cyclical events? I find that working and resting each muscle group in practice with the use of serial training and drills, athletes perform better on the cyclical sets. Even for individuals that may not be "good" at one of the four strokes, they get the opportunity each day to work on their technique. Plus, I feel that the serial sets are a better total workout. Cross training, if you will. Brian

RE: The Back-*** Combo?

Former Member — Tue, 23 Jan 2007 14:18:12 GMT

In Hamilton we had a clown demostrating swim strokes at our Christmas Carnival swim meet. He was called the count of no account. He did a combo stroke it was called the over arm, under arm side stroke. It combined all the strokes into one.

RE: The Back-*** Combo?

Former Member — Tue, 23 Jan 2007 09:59:48 GMT

I'm one of those back/*** mutants. But backstroke is the dominant of the two. I hate freestyle and can do backstroke all day. I compete in all the events but I do the best in the three backstroke and three breaststroke events.

RE: The Back-*** Combo?

indyswimbag — Tue, 23 Jan 2007 09:34:45 GMT

I am a breaststroker that 'pretends' to do fly and is attempting to get a better backstroke....I actually think I might go backwards during the back part of an IM. my freestyle is distance oriented BUT for the purposes of the poll I might be one of the few breaststrokers that is attempting to stretch the boundary between the back/*** combo...as for fly well I can at least keep pretending that I do it well:cool:

RE: The Back-*** Combo?

Former Member — Mon, 22 Jan 2007 15:07:48 GMT

I wouldn't say that I'm better at it than free or ***, but it's definatley not far behind and I certainly don't avoid it. Butterfly is just right out for me....... Kyra don't let them intimidate you. You're wonderful with your breaststroke...if you need to fly you can get on a plane...:drink:

RE: The Back-*** Combo?

Former Member — Mon, 22 Jan 2007 14:54:17 GMT

Well....according to most of the posts on this thread, I'm a genetic mutant. When I swam when I was younger I was definatley a backstroker hands down. Now I do distance free and breaststroke, but my back still isn't bad. I wouldn't say that I'm better at it than free or ***, but it's definatley not far behind and I certainly don't avoid it. Butterfly is just right out for me....... I guess I'll just have to have lots of mutant babies with Michael Phelps and slowly corner the swimming talent market.....bummer......:groovy: ;)

RE: The Back-*** Combo?

Former Member — Mon, 22 Jan 2007 13:24:04 GMT

My backstroke is illegal in 46 out of 50 states and in most of the rest of the civilized world. It has been featured a number of times on the world's funniest animals videos and once on comedy central. -- mel

RE: The Back-*** Combo?

Former Member — Mon, 22 Jan 2007 12:24:42 GMT

Im a freestylers and Im also good at ***, decent at fly but only the 50, but I suck at back. the back *** combo is the rarest one. Genetics is a big factor in which strokes you are good at. And I belive that back/*** people have a rare combination of gentics that make them good at both...why are only 10% of people left handed-genetices. why do some people have two different color eyes-genetics. all it is is a rare genetic combination.

RE: The Back-*** Combo?

Former Member — Mon, 22 Jan 2007 11:48:41 GMT

more standard combos like ... Free/Free Distance free/OW free OW free/Body surfer free :groovy: I suck at *** too.

RE: The Back-*** Combo?

Former Member — Mon, 22 Jan 2007 10:14:13 GMT

*** is best! :thhbbb:

RE: The Back-*** Combo?

Former Member — Mon, 22 Jan 2007 10:06:39 GMT

Yea! Fly/ Free combo rules! :groovy: I stink at back. :shakeshead: My *** has felt bad recently in practice. And as a masters I don't enjoy swimming anything over a 50 *** in a meet. From what I've seen over the years, it's rare to find a back/ breaststroker (not impossible). It's certainly not one of the more standard combos like fly/ free. Sure one can find examples of the back/ breaststrokers. But my guess is you'll find exponentially more free/ flyers; ***/ IMers; free/ backers; name your combo.

RE: The Back-*** Combo?

Jim Clemmons — Mon, 22 Jan 2007 07:32:59 GMT

Need work on back, okay at ***. Been working on back for a couple of years now and have my moments with it. At least "some" moments. Occasionally.

RE: The Back-*** Combo?

Donna — Mon, 22 Jan 2007 07:03:46 GMT

I am a distance freestyler at present but I enjoy doing everything and I am equally as bad or good at fly/back/***. I guess that makes me an ok IMer! Donna:joker:

RE: The Back-*** Combo?

FlyQueen — Mon, 22 Jan 2007 06:46:00 GMT

I'm actually not too good at back OR ***! I'm a fly/free girl myself! I think that is true for a lot of flyers. Unfortunately, due to shoulder problems, I can't do too much fly anymore. So.....I'm working on my back and *** as a result. I actually like them now. Sometimes its good to try something new anyways. Who says you can't teach an old dawg new tricks! :woot: Swimr4life "The older I get, the faster I was." www.advocare.com/04102379 Me too Beth! Since you are Fort's twin and she is my big sister, that makes us family, too, right? I'm only good at sdk, so the 50 back is alright, I'm working on making it better, partly because it is good for my shoulder. I used to not like back (have always liked it more than *** though) but now I'm starting to like it more ...

RE: The Back-*** Combo?

Julie Roddin — Mon, 22 Jan 2007 05:27:02 GMT

Like a lot of you I am awful at ***/good at back. Growing up I was good at both back and *** until I was 13. I always swam both at meets and still have various summer league pool and team records in them both. It's funny to see my name next to anything breaststroke related. I am making a good effort to swim more breaststroke in practice to help out my 400 IM this year!

RE: The Back-*** Combo?

The Fortress — Mon, 22 Jan 2007 05:10:10 GMT

I'm actually not too good at back OR ***! I'm a fly/free girl myself! I think that is true for a lot of flyers. Unfortunately, due to shoulder problems, I can't do too much fly anymore. So.....I'm working on my back and *** as a result. I actually like them now. Sometimes its good to try something new anyways. Who says you can't teach an old dawg new tricks! :woot: I'm not any of the combos (S)he-Man listed. I'm a life-long fly/back-er. Although I've not completely averse to freestyle sprints. I hope Beth is right that you can sometime teach an old dawg new tricks. Maybe the next shoulder injury, I'll go to my breaststroke clinic. :D P.S. Apparently, both my secret nemesis and my twin sister are free/flyers. Scarey!

RE: The Back-*** Combo?

swimr4life — Mon, 22 Jan 2007 05:00:49 GMT

RE: The Back-*** Combo?

FlyQueen — Mon, 22 Jan 2007 05:00:05 GMT

Obviously there are plenty of people good at both (same people that are good at all four strokes ... jerks!). I am a free/fly girl myself (in case no one caught on to that) my back is okay, but not great, my breaststroke is horrific (in case no one caught on to that either). Like your team Fort, we don't really have many breaststrokers. Maybe 2? At least that would claim it as their primary stroke, we are full of flyers and backstrokers ... Of the 2 "breaststrokers" neither one is a backstroker at all and actually both hate it ... hmmm ....