I am attempting to perfect my start and turns for the breaststroke. I recently reviewed three articles on the breaststroke turn which I found on the USMS web site. All had different recommendations for the turn pullout. The article by Budd Termin and David Pendergast recommended holding for 1 second after pushing off the wall before beginning the pullout. Another by Wayne McCauley recommended 3 seconds. Another by John Moffet just says "as you begin to slow down, start your pullout." I know there has to be an optimum time and it may be somewhat swimmer dependent, but the difference I see between these three authors is huge. Can anyone help me understand this dilemma. Ray
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Former Member
Wayne McCauley does not just recommend 3 seconds. It can be as short as 1second for some people in a sprint, to as long as 3.5 seconds in 200 races.
Most people have discredited the Bud Termin article, including the swimmers involved in the study.
For those who recommend tying the pulldown to loss of momentum, there is one rule. If you think you have lost momentum you are at least half to a full second late.
Accurate counting and lots of race type pushoffs are the best way to find what works best for you.
I am a believer in much of what the Lunk described in his 1985 video. Waiting to the other person to pulldown really works great. Really good breaststrokers all have good pulldowns, so letting the excited competitor pull first works great for the 100 and 200 races.
But for the 50 and even 25 sprints, many great breaststrokers would like to get rid of the pulldown completely, but you can't:dedhorse: The rules in a round about way state you have to include a pulldown. Officials will tell you they will disqualify you if you don't include a pulldown. So a really short count of one to 1.5 seconds can get you into race speed faster. I look at my 50 races and if I pulldown fast, I can still get ahead of my competitors by the 15 meter mark.
And like Lunk, the underwater pulldown has to be undercontrol, and setting you up for the first stroke up on the surface which should the strongest of the entire race. The first stroke up is as important as the dive and underwater pulldown. It has to be practiced to perfection.
For me, I try not to breathe on the first stroke up, try to have my hands at their widest point as my head breaks the waters surface, and I try to pull forwards and not go high up. You can gain or loose a full second during that first stroke up.
Wayne McCauley does not just recommend 3 seconds. It can be as short as 1second for some people in a sprint, to as long as 3.5 seconds in 200 races.
Most people have discredited the Bud Termin article, including the swimmers involved in the study.
For those who recommend tying the pulldown to loss of momentum, there is one rule. If you think you have lost momentum you are at least half to a full second late.
Accurate counting and lots of race type pushoffs are the best way to find what works best for you.
I am a believer in much of what the Lunk described in his 1985 video. Waiting to the other person to pulldown really works great. Really good breaststrokers all have good pulldowns, so letting the excited competitor pull first works great for the 100 and 200 races.
But for the 50 and even 25 sprints, many great breaststrokers would like to get rid of the pulldown completely, but you can't:dedhorse: The rules in a round about way state you have to include a pulldown. Officials will tell you they will disqualify you if you don't include a pulldown. So a really short count of one to 1.5 seconds can get you into race speed faster. I look at my 50 races and if I pulldown fast, I can still get ahead of my competitors by the 15 meter mark.
And like Lunk, the underwater pulldown has to be undercontrol, and setting you up for the first stroke up on the surface which should the strongest of the entire race. The first stroke up is as important as the dive and underwater pulldown. It has to be practiced to perfection.
For me, I try not to breathe on the first stroke up, try to have my hands at their widest point as my head breaks the waters surface, and I try to pull forwards and not go high up. You can gain or loose a full second during that first stroke up.
