I'm trying to understand what my backstroke pull should look like, and was hoping someone could help me out. Videos or graphics would be great, but I'll try and understand text if that is all that is available. I seem to be having trouble "grabbing" the water. That isn't the greatest description, but it is this slipping thing kind of like a dropped elbow would be in freestyle. I've finally figured out that whatever I did to try and overcome/overpower that feeling a couple weeks ago is what made my shoulder hurt. Basically I think I need to just start over with my stroke on this one.
Rotation is key in backstroke (just like free), especially for the distance events you're doing. The rotation in that video looked correct to me. If you don't rotate and use the core, it could hurt your shoulders. Also, overreaching is terrible on the shoulders. You have to have your hands entering in the 11:00 and 1:00 postition. I agree with the goswim analysis. A lot of people think they are doing that, but they are not. In addition to the goswim drill, I think doing double arm backstroke helps with correct arm placement, but you have to be pretty flexible to do this. The sailboat drill will help you with proper rotation and balance. Go watch the free videos on the TI website too, that have specific drills to help you learn backstroke.
But backstroke just really hurts some people's shoulders like Lindsay, scyfreestyler and John Smith. It doesn't bother me much. But it depends on the location of the shoulder pain. As coach SwimmieAvsFan has pointed out on other threads, having hyperextended elbows also seems to be associated with less pain on backstroke.
Rotation is key in backstroke (just like free), especially for the distance events you're doing. The rotation in that video looked correct to me. If you don't rotate and use the core, it could hurt your shoulders. Also, overreaching is terrible on the shoulders. You have to have your hands entering in the 11:00 and 1:00 postition. I agree with the goswim analysis. A lot of people think they are doing that, but they are not. In addition to the goswim drill, I think doing double arm backstroke helps with correct arm placement, but you have to be pretty flexible to do this. The sailboat drill will help you with proper rotation and balance. Go watch the free videos on the TI website too, that have specific drills to help you learn backstroke.
But backstroke just really hurts some people's shoulders like Lindsay, scyfreestyler and John Smith. It doesn't bother me much. But it depends on the location of the shoulder pain. As coach SwimmieAvsFan has pointed out on other threads, having hyperextended elbows also seems to be associated with less pain on backstroke.
