Lately I've been getting into breaststroke and fly, but I can't seem to find any enjoyment in backstroke. With the other strokes I have a real feeling for my body moving in the water, but with backstroke I might as well be running on land.
For those of you who enjoy backstroke, what do you like about it? What am I missing? Where's the fun in backstroke?
I like backstroke mostly because I think the start is fun and I really like long underwater work and getting to kick fly on my back! It seems to be the only stroke that I can somewhat sprint too (actually feel like I'm turning over).
Me too. I sprint a lot more effectively on my back than on my front (although I do prefer the 200 back to the 50). I think it's because I do a better job of using my kick for propulsion on my back than on my front, both flutter kicking while swimming at the surface and dolphin kicking off the walls. Also you can breathe a lot when you are at the surface on your back, and I do love to breathe.
To access the fun in backstroke, you gotta really lean back and flatten at the hip so that you stay smooth on top of the water. Then you gotta develop a good twisting kick and strong obliques so that you can rotate well. If you don't rotate enough your pull will pull you sideways rather than just forwards (or is that backwards)? Then just watch for the flags or it will go from fun to a splitting headache in a very short time.
I like backstroke mostly because I think the start is fun and I really like long underwater work and getting to kick fly on my back! It seems to be the only stroke that I can somewhat sprint too (actually feel like I'm turning over).
Me too. I sprint a lot more effectively on my back than on my front (although I do prefer the 200 back to the 50). I think it's because I do a better job of using my kick for propulsion on my back than on my front, both flutter kicking while swimming at the surface and dolphin kicking off the walls. Also you can breathe a lot when you are at the surface on your back, and I do love to breathe.
To access the fun in backstroke, you gotta really lean back and flatten at the hip so that you stay smooth on top of the water. Then you gotta develop a good twisting kick and strong obliques so that you can rotate well. If you don't rotate enough your pull will pull you sideways rather than just forwards (or is that backwards)? Then just watch for the flags or it will go from fun to a splitting headache in a very short time.
