Backstroke--Where's the fun?

RE: Backstroke--Where's the fun?

ourswimmer — Thu, 13 Dec 2007 12:33:07 GMT

alot more interesting stuff to look at around the pool deck, rather than staring at the bottom all the time. Good point. If you swim outside as I do, another fun aspect of backstroke is adding to your list of bird species seen from the pool. I don't get a lot of additions to the list swimming the face-down strokes. Several times in the pre-dawn I have seen bats.

RE: Backstroke--Where's the fun?

art_z — Thu, 13 Dec 2007 09:30:46 GMT

i'll take 10x200 backstroke over 10x200 freestyle any day of the week. alot more interesting stuff to look at around the pool deck, rather than staring at the bottom all the time. plus what other stroke allows you to: a) see your 50 splits as you come off your turn (assuming scoreboard/clock is behind the blocks, which it usually is). works great for a 200. b) easily see at any time how far behind you your competitors are :thhbbb:

RE: Backstroke--Where's the fun?

Former Member — Thu, 13 Dec 2007 07:59:25 GMT

Try this long-axis combination drill: First one lap (50 yards) of five backstroke alternated with two front crawl, no-breather freestyle. For each lap you reduce the number of BK with one and add one stroke of FR. Try it! thus: 5BK-2FR, 4BK-3FR, 3BK-4FR, 2BK-5FR

RE: Backstroke--Where's the fun?

Donna — Thu, 13 Dec 2007 02:29:32 GMT

This past summer we swam outdoors in the early morning hours and there is nothing that compares to backstroke by moonlight!;)

RE: Backstroke--Where's the fun?

Former Member — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 12:41:38 GMT

Backstroke to me feels like the way they describe waterboarding. I never feel like I'm getting a good breath and it often feels like I'm drowning. Unfortunately it is my best stroke so I guess I'll stick with it. Plus it is way better than that inefficient, satan-spawned stroke (***). I'll remember that next time I swim next to you in a race. If that ever occurs, I will make you scream "Thank you sir may I have another?!" :drown: Backstroke is also great for the tan. Of course if you have to swim indoors this time of year, that doesn't matter. We out here in the West, love this time of year. Outdoors 12 months yeah!

RE: Backstroke--Where's the fun?

Former Member — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 12:28:26 GMT

Fun? There is no fun in it at all. For me, it is all coughing, spluttering, limbs thrashing, hips sinking and water down my !#%**&#@! sinuses. It is a TERRIBLE experience. I am MISERABLE when I swim the backstroke. When I swim backstoke, I frequently stop in the middle of the pool and curse about how much I HATE the stroke. But I must say I have been encouraged by all the positive responses in this thread. And Chris Stevenson's record breaking swims looked smooth and effortless. No doubt it can actually be fun if you are not an UNCOORDINATED IDIOT like myself. Independently, I have been swimming some backstroke in workouts recently. I am of the belief that it is going to help me with my freestyle flutter kicking (which is equally apalling). It hurts my legs like hell and I can't stand doing it but I stick at it DOGGEDLY out of some weird, masochistic belief that if it HURTS it must be GOOD for you. Please someone, cheer me up. Syd

RE: Backstroke--Where's the fun?

Former Member — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 08:31:16 GMT

Rob....mine poking fun at Billy's comments about breastroke...not serious.

RE: Backstroke--Where's the fun?

Former Member — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 07:17:38 GMT

Hehehe, Rob, for those of us who don't take the *** seriously, it is a time to rest...because we swim it easy and long, with plenty of stretching. However if done properly I can assure you I get waisted. At my present level of training I find it hard to relax while swimming backstroke. I know an old fellow though who swims his 2,000 meters all backstroke while wearing a cap! A couple of things: when I re started in 2005 I found out the back was swum differently, but I adapted okay to the new way. Also, the *** was different with the no water over head rule gone. I also liked the new start and turn of ***. But I only swim them when the coach orders, and when eventually I do a 100 I.M. Out of shape is what I am, so I can only do a small amount of decent back, keeping the kicking and not losing style. I love the *** stroke out in the ocean, with no need for speed. I also have no knee problems so I do some *** for the leg exercise...take care, billy fanstone (there is a butterfrog in my future)

RE: Backstroke--Where's the fun?

Former Member — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 06:48:41 GMT

There is no fun in breastroke! We only swim it because we want to do the I.M., or if we want to look like a novice lap swimmer or if we are floating along...it is evil to do the breastroke. You get water up your nose, you get your sinuses filled with it, you almost drown. I hate the breastroke...love the back when I get a chance to rest from my fly or free...The Wookiee

RE: Backstroke--Where's the fun?

poolraat — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 06:47:22 GMT

I like backstroke much better than breaststroke. I'm just not very fast (of course that applies to the other 3 strokes too). But since I've been focusing more on it, it is improving. I even recently swam a QT in the 50 for SC Nationals next spring.

RE: Backstroke--Where's the fun?

Kurt Dickson — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 06:39:22 GMT

RE: Backstroke--Where's the fun?

Former Member — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 06:24:02 GMT

There is no fun in backstroke! We only swim it because we want to do the I.M., or if we want to get a suntan up front, or if we are floating along...it is evil to do the backstroke. You get water up your nose, you get your sinuses filled with it, you almost drown. I hate the backstroke...love the *** when I get a chance to rest from my fly or free...billy fanstone

RE: Backstroke--Where's the fun?

Chris Stevenson — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 06:15:21 GMT

I like backstroke for the cool starts and turns and underwater SDKs. Plus, it comes pretty naturally to me. So it's one stroke I don't have to obsessively dwell on technique and I can just enjoy. But fly is much more fun. I'm with Fortress, for much the same reasons. Backstroke is relaxing, almost zen-like. And I can get by without goggles if the chlorine isn't too bad -- and I usually practice in an ozonated pool (which is just awesome, by the way). But fly is the coolest stroke, definitely to watch and to do (when one isn't dying, that is). This dates me, but...I used to love the old stand-up backstroke starts. Anybody here remember them? Hardly any effort needed at all, yet oh so effective. On the other hand, I don't miss the old flip turns at all. Chris

RE: Backstroke--Where's the fun?

The Fortress — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 05:23:21 GMT

The fun is: when you've been trying for 8 years to break your personal best time of 1:09 100SCM back (achieved as a summer-leaguer), never coming close, and then suddenly, as the final event of 11 at a 3 day meet, 3 months removed from nearly having a destroyed your knee... knocking a second and a half off that PB. Great job, Muppet! You and SwimmieAvs really burned up the pool! I like backstroke for the cool starts and turns and underwater SDKs. Plus, it comes pretty naturally to me. So it's one stroke I don't have to obsessively dwell on technique and I can just enjoy. But fly is much more fun.

RE: Backstroke--Where's the fun?

ourswimmer — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 04:37:58 GMT

RE: Backstroke--Where's the fun?

Muppet — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 04:35:26 GMT

RE: Backstroke--Where's the fun?

ourswimmer — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 04:26:58 GMT

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.

RE: Backstroke--Where's the fun?

Karen Duggan — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 02:27:23 GMT

I think I had good coaches who taught me to swim it properly at age 13 so that's made it easier for me. I've always been a breaststroker, until I hurt my knee in 1997 (I think it was that year). Then I had to switch to back (that year I went 1:03 and 2:16 mostly wearing stretch cordz because I couldn't even push off the walls!) While those times aren't fast, I was happy with them :) Backstroke is very much a comfort thing. You definitely need correct body position or you do get water up your nose and that "I'm sinking" feeling. The biggest mistake I see people making, who don't like backstroke, is that they are "sitting" in the water. Instead of hips on the surface, they are too far underwater, which will throw off the whole thing... 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).

RE: Backstroke--Where's the fun?

Rob Copeland — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 02:02:52 GMT

...love the back when I get a chance to rest from my fly or free...The Wookiee Rest? ...love the *** when I get a chance to rest from my fly or free...billy fanstone Rest? You’ll have plenty of time to rest when you dry. In the mean time stick with the free and fly.