I see some age groupers getting real good results grabbing the gutter and placing feet a bit lower. They come right out and get clean entries just like the bar grabbers. Is this just a developmental thing, or can Masters benefit? I think the added buoyancy by staying low in the water at the start creates a stronger pushoff and slingshot?
Parents
Former Member
My backstroke start is my baby -- probably the thing I do best in swimming. Personally, I would never use a gutter start. I'd feel like I was flopping on my back. Much easier to get a cleaner deeper entry from the blocks. YMMV
But Wookiee may be correct in his analysis of what most masters can do. You need a vicious kick if you're 3-4 feet under.
As Kirk pointed out, there benefits to going deeper. You are one of the people that I was thinking of that would be an exception. Your start and underwaters are very strong.
And I should add, just because we don't have the abilities of the elites, doesn't mean we shouldnt work towards improvement. I believe that we should also be honest with ourselves about our abilities.
My backstroke start is my baby -- probably the thing I do best in swimming. Personally, I would never use a gutter start. I'd feel like I was flopping on my back. Much easier to get a cleaner deeper entry from the blocks. YMMV
But Wookiee may be correct in his analysis of what most masters can do. You need a vicious kick if you're 3-4 feet under.
As Kirk pointed out, there benefits to going deeper. You are one of the people that I was thinking of that would be an exception. Your start and underwaters are very strong.
And I should add, just because we don't have the abilities of the elites, doesn't mean we shouldnt work towards improvement. I believe that we should also be honest with ourselves about our abilities.
