Missed the memo about the changes in Backstroke ...
Former Member
Just did my second Swimetrics test last week and got the results. It's great stuff for my Freestyle and I got a lot of good feedback
-- this time, I also did my Backstroke and I think I must have missed out on the changes in backstroke technique. I am not totally clean on the pinky entry, so that's what I would have expected but then:
- I try to get to a 90 degree angle on my arm pull, which means my hands / fingers are pointing slightly up with the shoulder rotation -- apparently all wrong ... keep arm at about 120 degrees ?? Fingers pointing horizontal ... I tried that today and I reach soooo far into the other lane and oncoming traffic ...:bump:
- Then, I was taught kind of a downward swoop finishing the stroke off a little underneath my hip and then exiting the water. Well - that appears to be totally wrong (somehwat obvious when you see it .. I guess). :badday:
I had watched some underwater videos of Peirsol and I noticed this stuff - but I must have missed the boat somewhere in the last few decades...
Me too. I has a swim power test done for freestyle and made an immediate switch to incorporate the suggestions I received. The 2 biggest technique flaws I had for freestyle were:
- Hand should not re-enter at an angle (which I was taught in the 70s), but instead, enter with the palm parallel to the water.
and
- Underwater pull should be straight back- no s-curve, figure-8 curve, or whatever it is they taught me back in the 70s- flailing your hand around underwater is a waste of energy and less powerful.
Both of these felt immediately more natural and there is less pinching in my shoulders, and it may end up being faster as well. This has huge implications from being able to train harder without injury, to having a more efficient and faster stroke. My technique basically leaped forward a few decades, and was the best $100 I've spent for swimming related stuff.
Me too. I has a swim power test done for freestyle and made an immediate switch to incorporate the suggestions I received. The 2 biggest technique flaws I had for freestyle were:
- Hand should not re-enter at an angle (which I was taught in the 70s), but instead, enter with the palm parallel to the water.
and
- Underwater pull should be straight back- no s-curve, figure-8 curve, or whatever it is they taught me back in the 70s- flailing your hand around underwater is a waste of energy and less powerful.
Both of these felt immediately more natural and there is less pinching in my shoulders, and it may end up being faster as well. This has huge implications from being able to train harder without injury, to having a more efficient and faster stroke. My technique basically leaped forward a few decades, and was the best $100 I've spent for swimming related stuff.
