I did a quick search and saw a lot of threads on shoulders with a lot of responses, so if this has been discussed before,
smack (I mean FORGIVE) me,
or something.
But is it possible, and optimal, to swim all four strokes without internally rotating the shoulder joint?
As in sliding the hands in flat, always, rather than "pinkie out/pinkie in" for backstroke, or slightly angled hands (thumb first) for entry in fly (and I think even ever-so-slightly angled hands means slightly internally rotated shoulder joint, means ouch ouch ouch for me). Etc. (for free and ***, too, flat-handed entry, never internally rotating?)
Backstroke requires more body motion. You should never really be on your back while swimming, except in transition from one arm stroke to the other. Your head should remain still while your trunk rotates about its axis. Ideally, your shoulders and hips should be rotating back and forth, so as your hand goes over your head, your pinkie is forced into the water first, since it has to follow your arm and shoulder, which is now the lowest point of your body in the water.
Confusing? Not if you look at some really good backstrokers underwater. Their whole body rotates back and forth on each stroke. Some even look as if they are using a freestyle stroke, they rotate so much.
Backstroke requires more body motion. You should never really be on your back while swimming, except in transition from one arm stroke to the other. Your head should remain still while your trunk rotates about its axis. Ideally, your shoulders and hips should be rotating back and forth, so as your hand goes over your head, your pinkie is forced into the water first, since it has to follow your arm and shoulder, which is now the lowest point of your body in the water.
Confusing? Not if you look at some really good backstrokers underwater. Their whole body rotates back and forth on each stroke. Some even look as if they are using a freestyle stroke, they rotate so much.
