Last night I went to a coached practice for the first time in a long time, and the coach had me and one other person do backstroke pinkie out/pinkie in instead of thumb out/pinkie in. That was the first time I had ever had a coach tell me to do something like that, and I didn't get a chance to ask the purpose. Do any of you coaches or more experienced swimmers know why a coach might tell a swimmer to do that?
Former Member
If the thumb comes out first it should be rotated to the palms down and pinkie slightly up very soon. I find it is easier no muscle strain. It is not an extreme pinkie up.
I have been an all strokes swimmer in the past. I did hold the Canadian records for the 100 IM under a minute. It was on the books for a few years, but was taken off when they removed that dinkey distance from the record books. I was also 200 IM and 400 IM guy but they liked to dq me for my breaststroke which would be legal to day.
As far as my backstroke a great 50 but not such a great 100. The hundred back for me was a marathon swim.
I read this but don't under stand which felt better? I just tried this this morning and have to change my position (no pun intended). The pinkie out/pinkie in made swimming from my shoulder easier. When the thumb comes out first you can bend your elbow and cheat the recovery. With the pinkie out the elbow is straight and the recovery starts with the shoulder.
I just read your post a second time I now understand.
I respect your difference of opinion George.
As an age group swimmer I've gone as fast as a minute for 100 long course meters. Thumb out ...pinkie in.
The only way I could survive a 200 was stay loose. Pinkie out from the onset of the recovery tends to tighten up the arms...although it does set the hand in position for an ideal entry.
Phdude...relearning the three peak is tricky.
Sculling drills will help fine tune the hand motion for that extra swish on the exit.
