I saw a post on these forums with a link to a site discussing the future of breaststroke and the idea of NOT breathing every stroke. I can see how it might be advantageous, especially in a 50.
For those not familiar, the idea is that during your main stroke phase, every other stroke you pull as though you're going to take a breath, you still come up but not nearly as much as a breathing stroke. It seems to me (this, having not tried it yet) that this would allow you to not only conserve energy but also actually deliver more force to the water due to a more opportune angle to move forward. It also seems like it would allow you to stay in a lower stroke, also allowing for a quicker and more effective streamline each non-breathing stroke.
Well, my question is this, do you guys think that it's a good idea to start working toward this sort of stroke, also, if I have a meet tonight should I risk it?
I think that for the 50 it is a definite plus, but what about the 100? My 100 Breaststroke time is a 1:07.16 currently so I would be more than just a bit outside of the 40 second rule for no breathing. I'm also worried that breathing less means that my pullout will be less effective due to a lack of oxygen, is this concern warranted?
My 50 time is currently a 30.19, I really want to get it under 30 seconds. Do you guys think that not breathing each stroke will make a significant difference?
Former Member
Well, I tried it last night (though I was basically cruising tonight's swim), I noticed something, Throwing out into my glide and gliding for a longer period of time made my Breaststroke less exhausting. My time was a 1:08.99, I was trying to conserve energy for the 400 Freestyle Relay directly after my 100 Breaststroke (Which, notably, was a best time and generally looked much smoother.)
I'll get back to you on how it works, I've got the first practice of the week on Wednesday so I can drill the hell out of the Breaststroke. I'm excited to see how it performs when I don't have to worry about another race directly afterward. I intend to make all of my turns fast (oh, really? :P) and I won't skimp on any of my pullouts so this will be a good benchmark for how well this altered technique works.
I glided considerably longer last night and it felt like it was less difficult to stay moving, the only problem was that at first I had some decent competition. I think what this did was slowed down my first 50 split and significantly dropped my closing leg. I really want to know how to make my Breaststroke faster, if I'm ever going to drop times I feel like I need to find a stroke that allows me to move through the water easier.
If you couldn't tell from the videos, I am 6'2" and fairly flexible, I am willing to try any stroke variation that could even remotely make my stroke faster. I'm a bit frustrated by the past three meets, I've been at a 1:08-1:09 these past three meets and I'm afraid that without further changes it will stay that way.
Any tips? I can post up my 100 Breaststroke from last night as well as tonight, along with the previous recording you might be able to get a decent idea of where my stroke is at. Thanks! :)
Pls post your most recent swim! Then we can see if you have understood my points correctly. Please also notice that you wont see the full effect of this change in your technique for many, many months. I converted almost 1,5 years ago (!) and still see improvements as my muscle mass adopt to faster movements (i.e. different muscle fibres - that is not achieved over night for sure).
Good luck!
/Per
I'll be posting both recordings when I get home tonight, expect them up by tomorrow morning. I will be sure to get my Medley as well, unfortunately this past night our regular Fly-guy was sick and I had to take over his Medley leg, as well as his 100 Fly. That was painful.
I'll do my best to follow your instuctions. :)
I hate to disagree with Jeff,but I don't like to teach grabbing the gutter.Sure it can be faster,but I have seen too many people grab and twist their torso,instead of just grab and push.It's OK to use the gutter for more leverage,but not if it causes you to twist(roll like a ball,don't twist like a screw.)
Jeff, the reason for which I don't grab the wall is because that's what I've been taught is faster. I grabbed last year and it slowed me down.
I didn't get to swim the Breaststroke last night, rather, I swam a 200 freestyle and 500 freestyle.
We have a practice tonight, I'll focus on the notes which all of you mentioned. Wish me luck! :)
Jeff, the reason for which I don't grab the wall is because that's what I've been taught is faster. I grabbed last year and it slowed me down.
I didn't get to swim the Breaststroke last night, rather, I swam a 200 freestyle and 500 freestyle.
We have a practice tonight, I'll focus on the notes which all of you mentioned. Wish me luck! :)
You will for sure be faster in your turn if you can grab a gutter (if you hava a strong torso that is). The only reason for not doing it is because you typically dont have that possibility in the big and important meets.
:2cents:
/Per
Hmmm... I thought you had to be "oriented toward your stomach" when you left the wall. I'm not sure of the correct terminology, but you need to be more on your stomach than on your back, right?
Take a look at the master: www.youtube.com/watch
He's on his side off the wall and quickly gets himself oriented toward his stomach.
I think I put my feet on the wall pointing towards 10:30/11:00 (I turn to the left) and sink my left shoulder a little so I'm coming off the wall on my side and not my back. If you came off the wall on your back, you will likely be DQ'd. I don't think you need to come of the wall exactly on your front though, either.
He's on his side off the wall and quickly gets himself oriented toward his stomach.
I think I put my feet on the wall pointing towards 10:30/11:00 (I turn to the left) and sink my left shoulder a little so I'm coming off the wall on my side and not my back. If you came off the wall on your back, you will likely be DQ'd. I don't think you need to come of the wall exactly on your front though, either.
You have to be on your stomach when you initiate your pull. If you're still even somewhat on your side when you start to separate your hands, technically you are in DeeQ-ville.
...(roll like a ball,don't twist like a screw.)
Wouldn't that have you pushing off on your back? Or do you roll in some plane other than vertical?
you should be on your back as you leave the wall, just briefly. after you push off, you should smoothly turn onto your stomach. doing it this way saves time because you're not spending time on the wall twisting onto your stomach...
(disclaimer: some may disagree, but i've always been taught this way, and the team i coach for teaches our kids this way too...)
