Mine is a strictly 70s-era breaststroke, pretty flat, shoulders mostly stay in the water. My coach says I should be getting up (much) higher, though my initial thought was that energy devoted to going UP rather than FORWARD seems wasted.
But Maglischo is pretty convincing that the wave-style breaststroke is better and it certainly seems like the best breaststrokers nowadays all use this stroke.
So what drills or other means are out there to help modernize this old dog's breaststroke? Has anyone else out here made a successful transition and care to share what helped?
First note that the best have much less up and down motion than a few years ago.That said there is no doubt that some undulation is good.Here are 2 drills that might help-1) breaststroke pull dolphin kick with fins(big fins,zoomers don't give enough push) Start with a big slow dolphin kick and then work in the pull.
2) alternate BR with fly 1 stroke each for a 25 or 50.I find this one fun and it helps emphasize the similarities between the strokes.
Thanks, Allen.
#2 sounds interesting, I think I remember you mentioning this one before.
About #1: Maglischo also mentions this drill and he says that the dolphin kick should happen during the arm outsweep, rather than just replacing the frog kick. I guess the point is to help in getting up higher. Guzman in "The Swimming Drill Book," however, says to put on fins and basically the dolphin replaces the frog kick. Which way do you use?
I guess that you and other breaststroke fans will appreciate Maglischo's opening two sentences for the BR chapter: "The breaststroke has a rich competitive history. It was the first stroke used in competition after the Dark Ages and all of the remaining competitive strokes developed from it."
First note that the best have much less up and down motion than a few years ago.That said there is no doubt that some undulation is good.Here are 2 drills that might help-1) breaststroke pull dolphin kick with fins(big fins,zoomers don't give enough push) Start with a big slow dolphin kick and then work in the pull.
2) alternate BR with fly 1 stroke each for a 25 or 50.I find this one fun and it helps emphasize the similarities between the strokes.
Thanks, Allen.
#2 sounds interesting, I think I remember you mentioning this one before.
About #1: Maglischo also mentions this drill and he says that the dolphin kick should happen during the arm outsweep, rather than just replacing the frog kick. I guess the point is to help in getting up higher. Guzman in "The Swimming Drill Book," however, says to put on fins and basically the dolphin replaces the frog kick. Which way do you use?
I guess that you and other breaststroke fans will appreciate Maglischo's opening two sentences for the BR chapter: "The breaststroke has a rich competitive history. It was the first stroke used in competition after the Dark Ages and all of the remaining competitive strokes developed from it."
