I have officially given up trying to do a flip turn on my 50 Back. I was DQ'd this past weekend as I tried to turn over, flip and push off. I DQ'd because my feet couldn't find the wall and I just kinda floated there for a second, did a double arm pull, and went on my merry way. This has occurred at every meet so far, and I'm over it.
I noticed a lot of folks were doing open turns for their backstroke. I tried to find some videos online to show this, but I couldn't. Can someone explain to me how to properly perform an open turn for backstroke? I can do the back-to-*** turn just fine, so I'm guessing that back-to-back is kinda the same, except instead of pushing off on your belly, you push off on your back.
I have a lot of problems judging distance (always have, even as a kid...I used to run into a lot of walls when I figure skated), and this seems to have been the problem with swimming as well. Thanks ahead for any advice.
I don't know if there is much you can do about depth perception, but you can get your stroke count from the flags in. That distance to the wall is always the same.
I thought that Yards and Meters meets are different for the distance to the wall from the flags?
I thought that Yards and Meters meets are different for the distance to the wall from the flags?
You are right: 5 yards for SCY, 5 meters for SCM and LCM.
Sorry, haven't checked back in a few days.
You guys are right on target, it's five yards for short course, five meters for long course. Messes me up for a couple of weeks when we switch the pool from short to long course (25y x 25m facility). But those are the standard distances.
When I was an age grouper, I'd judge the turn by how high the flags were which, looking back, was not a very good way to do it. The angle will vary based on the lane you're in, but the distance to the wall when the flag is over your head is the same unless they've messed something up.
If you don't have flags, you're going to have trouble, though. If you have something you can use as a reference, start a count when you pass it. But do this every backstroke turn, every time you do it. Once you have that as a habit, you won't need to think about it in your race because it will be automatic. Then, when you're in a pool with flags, use them as your reference, but you're already in the habit of starting your count, that will be automatic.
Best of luck
Agreed, no flags is a problem. But I'd maintain that getting in the habit of counting your strokes in from a reference is as important. I'd think it would be easier to change your reference queue than it would be to develop the habit of counting once you are at a meet...
We don't have flags where I swim, unfortunately. I wind up using the ladder at the side of the pool to tell me when to turn. When I see the ladder it's time to turn over. It's not 100%, and there are some times when I misjudge either too far or too short, but it works most of the time and I get to practice turns.
:banana:
but the distance to the wall when the flag is over your head is the same unless they've messed something up.
Or you're at an outdoor meet and it's windy. The catenary distance can be pretty significant in the middle lanes!
Don't forget the lane lines typically change to a solid color at the 5 yd/m mark. And unless you are outside (lucky bastidge!), you can also establish markers on the ceiling. Finally, as we learned in flight school, one peak is worth a thousand calculations. Extend and arch and look for the wall/blocks/scoreboards, then roll, stroke and FLIP.
Hey Ande: Yep, it was Brett, who swims fast, not Ethan, who doesn't. How's that, for extra commas, eh? :)
Mr. Nelson, I was also under the impression that the catenary curve is the solution to a cable hanging under its own weight uniformly. It is ideal, but a real wind load outside wouldn't give rise to a catenary solution, it would just flap around like a cable in a stiff breeze, complete with vibratory modes from the supports. I believe mathematicians call that the TTCAE or "time to call an engineer" solution. But perhaps I've forgotten my statics and vibrations classes, they get fuzzy after so many years.
It was a superb use of catenary, though.
