My backstroke is so piss poor that I'm faster at breaststroke than I am at backstroke. I'm swimming 25 back at the sprint classic in about 2 weeks, so I need to figure out how to swim it preety soon. If anyone has any advice for me on backstroke I would love to hear it becasue I'm trying to win that fastest man award at the classic and I have a feeling that backstroke is going to prevent me from doing so. I went a 15.2 in meters yesterday. That time is not going help me at all. My stroke is sub-par, my underwaters are weak, and my finish is sketchy becase there are no backstroke flags at the pool I swim at so I never get a chance to practice it. I know how to swim it but I just can't do it and I'm not good at it. The 25 backstroke is going to be an adventure for me at the classic. But if anyone has any tips for me I would appreciate it.
Former Member
I do not know your situation. 13.6 is pretty fast. That is 27.2. If I follow. I have been pushing this 1/2 body rotation backstroke at my Y. Seems to work. Rotate the shoulders while swimming but keep your feet as level as possible to create advantagious flow behind you. It takes great abs. I do not know your dryland. But to swim this way takes a lot of ab work. ALOT! I'm working with a 5 year old and having her float a bouy over her belly button while kicking backstroke. Damndest thing you ever saw. Bouy just floats over her belly button as she kicks flat. Just stays there, all the way down the pool. I tried doing it. Can't. Takes great abs. At what age do abs go soft? Mine are there somewhere, just hidden. Swim on your side from the waist up. Kick flat. Just like a boat. Any takers? Come on, I can take it.
Former Member
... I'm swimming 25 back at the sprint classic in about 2 weeks, ... The 25 backstroke is going to be an adventure for me at the classic. But if anyone has any tips for me I would appreciate it.
reach far into it for the catch, and keep your head back (in a comfortable neutral position).
yeah, 2 weeks is pretty short notice. but just try and relax into it.
have fun.
Warren: I am told that they determine the fastest man "by placing." So win three and place as high as you can in backstroke. Just go for a great start.
On the stroke, the first part of the motion should be like arm wrestling and the second part of the motion should be like throwing something at your feet.
That's the way it was explained to me anyway, from TI.
Arm wrestling? I don't get that at all.
Warren:
The scoring is either 5-4-3-2-1 for 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th place OR 3-2-1 and they only score 3 places. My coach said that, unfortunately, the scoring stystem disadvantages those with one bad stroke. Although more typically (as for me), people tend to suffer from a poor breaststroke.
Former Member
On the stroke, the first part of the motion should be like arm wrestling and the second part of the motion should be like throwing something at your feet.
That's the way it was explained to me anyway, from TI.
