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.
I'd copy someone who is really good at it.
It's all about strength and technique
Well, there is one person on my team who's a great BR-er. But he just gave himself a huge SLAP tear from bench pressing. :sad: Coach has no idea how to do it. I guess I'm stuck with trying to watch Mini-Fort, who I still can't believe I birthed. Or get tips from Jim in Austin.
Isn't it better to watch from underwater though ... that seems like the better way to see the "hinge" or "wave."
The GoSwim video with Kaitlin Sandeno and Erik Vendt has a lot of underwater footage, and is IM oriented so it does spend some time on ***.
Is that the 4 strokes DVD? I think I might own that one. Haven't watched it in ages. Then, there's always youtube.
I tried this "hinging" thing out today. Should have been doing this awhile ago, I think. I've been swimming BR with my arms and legs and not my core. :doh: I was using my arms to pull up to breath without pushing my hips down. Breaststroke is so technically difficult. I am definitely not one of those "born" breaststrokers. I could definitely use a breaststroke clinic.
Come to Mt. Hood in August 2008 and you're on...;)
That's what Allen keeps saying, but I'm only going to Austin next year. Plus, I really try to confine my BR ugliness to local zones meets and limit viewer nausea.
I will be in Austin, so let's agree to do a "clinic" there.
There are all kinds of clinics all over, Home Depot has in store hinging clinics and Videos.
Ande I went to Home Depot they showed me how to apply the hinge.
Mention of hinge:
This is from the Jill Clarke Swimming School site posted by "geochuck" (Thanks!):
"If you use your high elbows as a hinge for the inward sweep of your hands and forearms, you'll create the leverage you need to use your abdominal muscles to bring your hips forward."
Regards, VB
Jeff is right. A mistake many (most?) non-breastrokers make is that they keep their hips high in the water when kicking, which leads to:
(a) knees forward, creating resistance (like putting on the brakes), and/or
(b) feet out of the water when kicking (loses power)
Focus on driving your hips down while bringing your feet up to your butt, and keep your kees fairly close together.
Does this help?
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?
I hadn't heard the word hinge for that but it makes sense.There is an article in the new Swimming World that instead of keeping the head neutral all the time,Brendan Hansen lifts his head slightly to initiate the rise to breathe.I suspect that is about simultaneous with the "hip thrust".Don't over exaggerate this motion( See Wayne's articles"What Went Wrong with the Wave Breaststroke" and What Went Right with the Wave Breaststroke" .)
