The Backstroke Lane

Chris, breathing once per cycle, how many breaths per length do you take in a 100 or 200 SCY back? I don't count breaths per se, of course. But in a 100 race I take 10-11 kicks underwater and about 4 stroke cycles per length. I often taken an extra quick breath just before the flip, so that would be 5 breaths per lap. I am less sure in the 200. I take 6-7 kicks underwater but don't remember how many stroke cycles that equates to...maybe 6? I'll have to do a test run tomorrow in practice, if I remember.

Okay, just for fun... on your start, do you whip the arms out and around prior to entry, or up and over? I've always gone around, as up and over tends to drive me too deep too early in the entry profile. What about the rest of you? Does anyone use a Breastroke recovery in the air?:D

I don't count breaths per se, of course. But in a 100 race I take 10-11 kicks underwater and about 4 stroke cycles per length. I often taken an extra quick breath just before the flip, so that would be 5 breaths per lap. I am less sure in the 200. I take 6-7 kicks underwater but don't remember how many stroke cycles that equates to...maybe 6? I'll have to do a test run tomorrow in practice, if I remember. Okay, I remembered that I have two swims on Floswimming (from Clovis nationals). The 100 back stroke count as I remembered it was pretty accurate. My stroke count (not cycles but individual pulls) for the 200 was: 6/9/9/10/10/11/11/11. So divide those numbers by 2, round up if necessary, and that is how many breaths I took for each lap. Okay, just for fun... on your start, do you whip the arms out and around prior to entry, or up and over? I've always gone around, as up and over tends to drive me too deep too early in the entry profile. What about the rest of you? Does anyone use a Breastroke recovery in the air?:D I think going over the top is more common. I fling my arms to the side, but my start isn't great.

... I think going over the top is more common. I fling my arms to the side, but my start isn't great. Do you look up at the ceiling/sky, or do you tip your head until you see the other end of the pool and then align it just before entry?

Do you look up at the ceiling/sky, or do you tip your head until you see the other end of the pool and then align it just before entry? Mostly up, tilted a little back.

Do any of the guys ever get beard burn on one shoulder but not the other? Today was the first time that I had gotten beard burn in a long time. What I found interesting was that I only got it on my left shoulder but not my right. Does this ever happen to any of you? YES! I noticed this exact thing this summer when I would do a backstroke-heavy LCM practice. It was quite noticeable too; my coach commented on it. (I haven't noticed it in short-course, though; I guess fewer strokes between walls...)

Do any of the guys ever get beard burn on one shoulder but not the other? Today was the first time that I had gotten beard burn in a long time. What I found interesting was that I only got it on my left shoulder but not my right. Does this ever happen to any of you?

YES! I noticed this exact thing this summer when I would do a backstroke-heavy LCM practice. It was quite noticeable too; my coach commented on it. (I haven't noticed it in short-course, though; I guess fewer strokes between walls...) I found it odd that I was getting it on one shoulder but not the other. It has me wondering if I am doing something differently with the mechanics.

I found it odd that I was getting it on one shoulder but not the other. It has me wondering if I am doing something differently with the mechanics. Okay... which shoulder? And the obvious follow-up, are you left handed or right handed? (And this isn't just 5 o'clock shadow beard we are talking about, is it?) :oldman:

Okay... which shoulder? And the obvious follow-up, are you left handed or right handed? (And this isn't just 5 o'clock shadow beard we are talking about, is it?) :oldman: Left Shoulder. Right handed. Yea, it would be closer to 5 o'clock shadow at 6 am than a full beard. I would say about 5 day growth(insert smart alec comments here)