Calling all breaststroke gurus ... Can anyone explain what "hinging" is in breaststroke? I've heard the reference, but don't really know what it is or how to do it.
Also, do any you use paddles in BR for fast scull drills or anything else?
Thanks.
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I think this makes sense. So your hips are low while you're drawing your knees up. Then your hips pop back up as you are lunging forward to finish the pull? I guess, as Jeff mentioned, too big a hinge and you're up too high in the water?
Leslie,
one of the positive effects of the hinge in breaststroke is that, during the post-arm-recovery dive and subsequent kick, your legs and trunk power downward in the water, hinged at the hips. There is a component of downward thrust to the kick as well as the froggy-type motion. That is, the body's core produces some element of power in the kick, much the same way as dolphin kicking does in fly. Because of a hinge at the waist, the breaststroke kick now provides power in two planes in the water: one is the horizontal (froggy-style) plane and the other is vertical from the downward component of the kick. It's not dolphin but has a dolphin-like action to it. It is this part of the kick that seems to me to give breaststrokers their common problems with 'sports hernias,' the strain to the groin muscles. When you've got this working, you should feel like the Loch Ness Monster snaking through the water!
I think this makes sense. So your hips are low while you're drawing your knees up. Then your hips pop back up as you are lunging forward to finish the pull? I guess, as Jeff mentioned, too big a hinge and you're up too high in the water?
Leslie,
one of the positive effects of the hinge in breaststroke is that, during the post-arm-recovery dive and subsequent kick, your legs and trunk power downward in the water, hinged at the hips. There is a component of downward thrust to the kick as well as the froggy-type motion. That is, the body's core produces some element of power in the kick, much the same way as dolphin kicking does in fly. Because of a hinge at the waist, the breaststroke kick now provides power in two planes in the water: one is the horizontal (froggy-style) plane and the other is vertical from the downward component of the kick. It's not dolphin but has a dolphin-like action to it. It is this part of the kick that seems to me to give breaststrokers their common problems with 'sports hernias,' the strain to the groin muscles. When you've got this working, you should feel like the Loch Ness Monster snaking through the water!
