The Backstroke Lane

I could, but I'm not quite as good in the 200 (go figure, I'm a mid-dist freestlyer, not a sprinter). I've had more success in the 50 and 100. If I do 200 back in the next meet I might. Try it. Which nose clip do you use? I like the speedo metal one. I have found that it keeps water out but doesn't pinch my nose to the point that I can't exhale above water. I have also found that if I put my head into the right position, coming off the walls, then I don't need a nose clip at all.

Anyone have any good advice on breathing patterns for backstroke? Is it best to try for breathe in on one armstroke (left arm), and out on the next armstroke (right arm) ??? (Hey That Guy - even sarcastic advice could be good advice) :afraid: I'm not the best, but I tend to breathe in as the arm comes out of the water and out when it enters. So, I guess I breathe twice in each stroke cycle. This may not work too well for a 50, but it works pretty well for a 200. I've got a question on starts. I can't for the life of me get out of the water on my dive. I try to jump up at an angle, but I end up just pushing into the water and sort of do a back smack. Anyone have any tips on how to actually do a dive?

Try it. Which nose clip do you use? I like the speedo metal one. I have found that it keeps water out but doesn't pinch my nose to the point that I can't exhale above water. I have also found that if I put my head into the right position, coming off the walls, then I don't need a nose clip at all. I have a silcone plastic one that's a Speedo, but I prefer the old fashioned piece of metal with the flesh colored silicone.

Since the backstroke lane is currently active, I thought I'd solicit comments about my 200 backstroke from the Auburn Meet. Backstroke is my weakest event by far. I'm in lane 1: YouTube - E18H04 200BK Note that I didn't take this event very seriously but I still swam it hard... especially near the end when I noticed I was still close to the swimmer next to me. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Since the backstroke lane is currently active, I thought I'd solicit comments about my 200 backstroke from the Auburn Meet. Backstroke is my weakest event by far. I'm in lane 1: YouTube - E18H04 200BK Note that I didn't take this event very seriously but I still swam it hard... especially near the end when I noticed I was still close to the swimmer next to me. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Three quick items I would suggest you take on first, and probably in the order presented to improve the overall 200: Smaller, tighter, faster kick. The rotation is fine, but the amplitude seems too large and the frequency needs to pick up. This will take some kick sets in practice to sustain over a 200. Streamline Dolphin Kick off start/turns. Try to get more out of the start and turn by lengthening your time in SDK. Again, practice is key to maintaining your SDK over a 200. Arm entry. You seem to overreach at the top of your stroke. Your hands are entering past the centerline of your head/spine. This tends to move your hips left to right. Get someone to watch as you try to move that entry along or outside of the centerline. Then focus on the downward catch and pull-through.

Thanks! I definitely see the overreach. SDK needs improvment for other strokes as well. Seems to be the first thing that goes when I get tired. On the backstroke kick, I have a much smaller aplitude/higher frequency kick when I just kick. That has improved significantly over the last few months. However, I can't seem to coordinate it with hip rotation. Maybe it's something that works out with practice? Or perhaps if I concentrate on the smaller amplitude kick, I'll find the right timing easier?

Thanks for all the talk on starts, guys. I always slip when I try to do good starts in practice, because both pools where I swim have really deep metal gutters.

Do backstrokers swim with more of a bent arm pull or is the trend goiing to a straighter arm pull? When I say "straight" I don't mean locked out but with a slight bend in the arm.Check out this video of Ryan Lochte- max bend seems to be 90 degrees about mid way through the pull, but arms are relatively straight otherwise. This is how it was taught to me 30 years ago- it doesn't seem like it has changed. YouTube - Ryan Lochte - Backstroke Technique

I've got a question on starts. I can't for the life of me get out of the water on my dive. I try to jump up at an angle, but I end up just pushing into the water and sort of do a back smack. Anyone have any tips on how to actually do a dive? A few years back I read a tip from Ande that said to position yourself for the start such that your knees are bent 90 degrees. When the starter says take your mark, don't change the angle of your knees, just pull yourself up with your arms a bit. I don't know why this works but it works great, I rip almost every entry. Thanks Ande! hey there you're welcome the 90 degree knee bend on backstroke starts works because you set your knees at the ideal place to jump powerfully and get off the blocks fast. Extra knee bend is unnecessary. Swimmers who bend too much just spend more time on the blocks and don't jump any better. It's worthwhile to improve your backstroke start technique and get more air and less drag through the water. I wish swimming would return to stand up starts on backstroke or at least curling toes over the lip. Ande As mainly a freestyler who has recently discovered the 200 back, my backstroke starts were severely lacking. Thanks for the tips -- I'm excited to try the 90 degree leg angle one. One thing that helped me... I was sitting back in the water on my start, and my coach told me that was an easy fix. He said that instead of tucking my chin in preparation for the start, I should tilt my head back slightly/look up. At the start, he said to throw everything back at once. I tried it, and voila! Not the best start I'm sure, but much better than what I had been doing. To quote, "For your purposes, that was perfect." It might not work for everyone, but it definitely helped me. Now to get my IM turns passable...

Given that I turn 65 in April, my kick is only slowing down:badday: