The Backstroke Lane

By the way, whose brilliant idea was it to build pools with stainless steel gutters? There is no good place to put your feet for backstroke starts. In some pools the stainless goes down so far there's no good place to put your feet on a flip. How best to handle stainless steel gutters, particularly on the start? You just have to get used to it. I once swam a meet at an outdoor SCM pool where the walls were very smooth and slippery, like glass. If I didn't hit each flip turn 100% straight on, my feet would slide sideways instead of pushing off. Circle swimming during warmups was challenging to say the least. Every pool is a little bit different; this is why you need to get some warmup time in the competition pool, get some practice starts in, and so on. This year at Federal Way, the new track-start devices were installed on the blocks. I don't know what to call them but they're the little ramps that you can put your back foot on, and get some extra launch on your start. It only took me two practice starts to conclude that they are completely awesome.

Perhaps this belongs in the "Charlotte Ultraswim" thread as well but... Did anyone else notice the following? It appeared as though Missy Franklin didn't do any SDKs off the final turn in her 200 LCM backstroke victory at the Charlotte Ultraswim. This might be interpreted in at least two ways: 1) It is possible to swim the 200 back very fast without an excellent SDK, (which we already knew since there were some very fast times posted before anyone did SDK) and 2) Miss Franklin is going to be dangerously fast if she develops a good SDK.

Did anyone else notice the following? It appeared as though Missy Franklin didn't do any SDKs off the final turn in her 200 LCM backstroke victory at the Charlotte Ultraswim. This might be interpreted in at least two ways: 1) It is possible to swim the 200 back very fast without an excellent SDK, (which we already knew since there were some very fast times posted before anyone did SDK) and 2) Miss Franklin is going to be dangerously fast if she develops a good SDK. It has always been said that some swimmers are not faster SDKing than swimming. But it is a skill that is developed. Missy has been around awhile, but who knows what her coach will have her do as she continues to grow and get even stronger. 15? Sheez - far from finished!

The sun while swimming backstroke outdoors is a wicked "distraction". But that isn't what is making you swim crooked. Ultimately the line you keep is determined by where you push the water at the end of your pull. Finish your pull near your body, throwing (or pushing) the water straight down to your toes. Even throwing water an inch or two to the side or away from your body line will cause you to swim crooked to the other direction. Keep your head rock steady while looking straight up or a shade forward. The chin is slightly tucked in to lengthen your spine, not to look down toward your feet. Press your shoulders back into the water. That will help keep your hips and legs up higher in the water. And yes, get the darkest goggles and work on your great body position. Those will both help you keep your focus.

Great advice Ahelee! Something else that helps me is to check where I am as I come off the walls on my turns. If you're coming off the wall at a slight angle you will end up on the lane line too. I do a quick check and make sure I'm straight before I break out. Of course in long course you don't have as many chances to check yourself. I swim outside all summer and that helps more than anything.

I miss the good ole "standup" backstroke start from the old days, where all you had to have was one part of your foot in the water, like a heel, and you could hold onto the top of the block with your hands. Worked great on getting great distance off the start. Was also a nice "psych out" routine to the guy next to you when you wouldn't hop in the water prior to the start but just saunter around the block, put your feet on the gutter and assume the position.

The sun while swimming backstroke outdoors is a wicked "distraction". But that isn't what is making you swim crooked. Ultimately the line you keep is determined by where you push the water at the end of your pull. Finish your pull near your body, throwing (or pushing) the water straight down to your toes. Even throwing water an inch or two to the side or away from your body line will cause you to swim crooked to the other direction... well, how can you explain why, at this meet, almost all backstrokers complain about the same thing every year that it's sunny, but it almost never comes up when it's cloudy??? after 8 years of doing this same meet with the same order of events, i have the same problem wookiee had this year, if it's sunny. but never when it's cloudy. :confused:

a big difference between the 50 and the 100/200 was the time of day. by the time the 200 and 100 rolled around, the sun was almost directly overhead, so it was wicked tough to see anything the one direction. I swim outside nearly all the time but almost always in the early AM, and in dim light I don't have any problem staying on line. I usually pick one lane line and hug it on purpose at outdoor meets when the sun is bright and directly overhead. I may swim 201 meters total, but I figure it's still faster than zig-zagging on every 50 and swimming 205.

The sun while swimming backstroke outdoors is a wicked "distraction". But that isn't what is making you swim crooked. Ultimately the line you keep is determined by where you push the water at the end of your pull. Finish your pull near your body, throwing (or pushing) the water straight down to your toes. Even throwing water an inch or two to the side or away from your body line will cause you to swim crooked to the other direction. Keep your head rock steady while looking straight up or a shade forward. The chin is slightly tucked in to lengthen your spine, not to look down toward your feet. Press your shoulders back into the water. That will help keep your hips and legs up higher in the water. And yes, get the darkest goggles and work on your great body position. Those will both help you keep your focus. Thanks for the tips Ahelee! I too hugged the lane line in my recent outdoor meet. I attribute it to the fact that my backstroke is mediocre, and when I swim indoors I always line myself up with the ceiling landmarks.

The best thing for swimming straight outdoors long course is to practice practice practice. There is no substitute and if you don't have access to a long course pool it will be more difficult. Also once you start making corrections in your direction its hard to straighten back out! You will get a wicked shimmy going on. . . I think its better to glance at the lane line, just roll your head slightly with your stroke and spot the lane line.