What causes the most propulsion in backstroke--arms or kicks
Former Member
Some say in backstroke propulsion comes mostly from the arm movement, while others say kicking is the most important. What do you think? Is it possible to be fast (not the fastest) while being weak in one or the other?
Parents
Former Member
I tried doing four dolphins kicks off each turn in 2009, and I was going slower in my backstroke races. I was better off flutter kicking for a little bit off each turn and then surfacing about seven or eight yards from the wall, similar to my freestyle turn.
I do four dolphin kicks off the start, only to help me get to the surface. I've been working on a shallower start, but it's slower at the moment.
I think my backstroke might be more in line with yours. I don't have great underwater kicks. Yes, I still work them in practice but in races, it hasn't translated into improved speed.
This morning, I did a backstroke set with a strap around my ankles to see how it affect my times. We were swimming short course meters. I was "pulling" 100 meter backstrokes and coming in around 1:20 per 100. The efforts weren't 100 % all out, as I was focused on getting a good catch and powering through the catch.
There is no way I can kick scm that fast. I didn't kick off the wall, just pulled my way through the swims.
I tried doing four dolphins kicks off each turn in 2009, and I was going slower in my backstroke races. I was better off flutter kicking for a little bit off each turn and then surfacing about seven or eight yards from the wall, similar to my freestyle turn.
I do four dolphin kicks off the start, only to help me get to the surface. I've been working on a shallower start, but it's slower at the moment.
I think my backstroke might be more in line with yours. I don't have great underwater kicks. Yes, I still work them in practice but in races, it hasn't translated into improved speed.
This morning, I did a backstroke set with a strap around my ankles to see how it affect my times. We were swimming short course meters. I was "pulling" 100 meter backstrokes and coming in around 1:20 per 100. The efforts weren't 100 % all out, as I was focused on getting a good catch and powering through the catch.
There is no way I can kick scm that fast. I didn't kick off the wall, just pulled my way through the swims.
