I noticed the other day that I tend to grab the edge when doing my breaststroke turns. I know that is bad form, but is it grounds for a DQ? I'm swimming a meet this weekend and not sure if I should spend the next 2 or 3 workouts trying to correct my turns. I just read this article and realized I have a lot to work on with my open turns: www.usms.org/.../articledisplay.php
Yes,you can grab the gutter,or top of the wall for that matter,as long as you touch both hands simultaneously.But,yes it will slow you down,you should just push back with one hand while you jerk the other arm back elbow first("elbow the robber".)I see even good swimmers often grab and twist instead of just push.
I experimented today.. I think I'm faster when I grab the gutter.
I do the grab-twist thing, throwing myself sideways and pivoting onto my stomach for the pull-down. Right now that's faster than when I finish with my hands underwater and touch the wall, then pivot. I think the problem is my timing, it's hard to kick into the wall like I know I should. I always seem to end up either too far away stretching and reaching, or too close and right on top of the wall.
It's something I will need to work on. One of the many things :)
