The Backstroke Lane

OK, Forumites, I have finally gotten up the nerve to post new videos of my pathetically slow backstroke. As a breaststroker, backstroke is my weakness in the 100IM and I would really like to improve on it. Any constructive criticism would be most appreciated! http://youtu.be/_lETm_DKLLo - Believe it or not ( :lmao: ), this is my race pace backstroke! http://youtu.be/GW0kTmVdRqQ -This is my EZ backstroke; I look like an old lady... :blush:

OK, Forumites, I have finally gotten up the nerve to post new videos of my pathetically slow backstroke. As a breaststroker, backstroke is my weakness in the 100IM and I would really like to improve on it. Any constructive criticism would be most appreciated! http://youtu.be/_lETm_DKLLo - Believe it or not ( :lmao: ), this is my race pace backstroke! http://youtu.be/GW0kTmVdRqQ -This is my EZ backstroke; I look like an old lady... :blush: You have to dolphin kick on your back like you mean it, lady! The key problem is that your hips and legs are sinking. This can be cured principally by using your legs and developing a stronger kick to drive the stroke (faster turnover might help you too). I can see you're trying to rotate, but you would be rotating your body instead of just your shoulders if you kicked more.

You have to dolphin kick on your back like you mean it, lady! The key problem is that your hips and legs are sinking. This can be cured principally by using your legs and developing a stronger kick to drive the stroke (faster turnover might help you too). I can see you're trying to rotate, but you would be rotating your body instead of just your shoulders if you kicked more. Thanks Fort; I appreciate the feedback. Yeah, I can see my kick is needing, uhhhh, a lot of improvement. I have been working on it with fins, but I have a looong way to go! As for my turnover, it feels like I am turning over fast, but I watch the video and just laugh at the slow-mo look of it. I will keep working on it! Thanks!

Wookiee and 'Silver: THANKS! You both provided great feedback, in addition to Fort's kicking feedback. I sure have my work cut out for me! But, I knew that would be the case with my backstroke... (Hopefully, my freestyle won't take as much work to correct!) The work starts tomorrow morning! :agree:

I'm not going to critique on this one. :) I can swim backstroke, but my coach is constantly picking me apart every time. Bad habits just don't die!!

Thanks Fort; I appreciate the feedback. Yeah, I can see my kick is needing, uhhhh, a lot of improvement. I have been working on it with fins, but I have a looong way to go! As for my turnover, it feels like I am turning over fast, but I watch the video and just laugh at the slow-mo look of it. I will keep working on it! Thanks! Time your break-outs so that you aren't having to rest the non-pulling arm on the surface. If you watch, you will see you right arm sitting on the top of the water. You need to time it so that as the left arm is finising the first pull, the right one is still underwater. This will allow you to grab water with the right arm and go into the next stroke. Second, it looks as though you aren't rolling enough with your hips. You are recovering a bit too wide. If you had more hip rotation, the recovering arms will be able to come up in a straigther path from the exit, without having to swing wide. You do a good job of staying outside the shoulders on the entry. Don't change that at all. Just add some hip rotation so that you don't have to swing your arms much. Third, even on each swims, don't have "soft hands" on the swim. You want to drive each arm into the water, so that you can go to the catch positon about 12 or so inches deep. If you softly put the hands on the water, you have disconnected the arm from the body. You will probably find that you push the arm sideways to get it into the water, which will cause you to zig zag down the pool. Drive the arms into the water, directly to the catch. This will keep you connected, powerful and swimming straighter.

It's look great above the surface Elaine. One thing is slightly off underwater though. Your arms are staying straight or so it seems. They should be bending a bit more after the catch. Here's a suggestion. After the initial catch and pull...when the pulling hand is almost in line with your shoulder region ....the elbow should be pointed downwards towards the bottom of the pool with the hand somewhat held high. It's at that point when you begin to throw the water towards your feet. As far as the mechanics of this. If you were to lift yourself out of the pool onto the deck...the arms are going to be bending by the time they get to your mid section... so that you can hoist your torso upwards. You'd have a very hard time if you were to use straight arm. The same thing applies underwater. lh3.googleusercontent.com/.../Bstrk%257Estrokemechanics.jpg

back - YouTube Any negative criticism for me? learned this stroke this summer. I train alone

Elaine~ I'm not superfast, but as you know that backstroke is my favorite. That's what I had video done of at SwimFest. I agree with Silver that you are missing most of the power of your catch. You need to treat the backstroke catch just like a freestyle catch. Bend that elbow. I personally get a better catch, if I mentally think of my hands entering at 10 and 2. Also, learn the flipturn. It really cuts your time. Here's a great drill that we use to really get the feel of it. http://youtu.be/GiqKmjnxoU8

Elaine~ I'm not superfast, but as you know that backstroke is my favorite. That's what I had video done of at SwimFest. I agree with Silver that you are missing most of the power of your catch. You need to treat the backstroke catch just like a freestyle catch. Bend that elbow. I personally get a better catch, if I mentally think of my hands entering at 10 and 2. Also, learn the flipturn. It really cuts your time. Here's a great drill that we use to really get the feel of it. http://youtu.be/GiqKmjnxoU8 Thanks for the feedback, Moody! I'll work on bending my elbow more (and faster!) for a better catch. As for flipturns, I know how to do them and always did them in high school swimming. But, since then, I developed Meniere's, an inner ear disorder that makes me feel disoriented and seasick when I do flipturns! After doing a couple, I have no clue which way is up or down and I get quite dizzy! And, after doing several, I have to get out of the pool and :bolt:. I found that out one day when I first got back into swimming and decided to practice my turns. I couldn't figure out what was wrong until I made the Meniere's- flipturn connection. :censor: