Hey Fellow Swimmers,
I am a backstroker and I have a fairly good underwater SDK for my age. I can swim faster underwater than I can on the surface. Usually, 15 meters is not a problem for me.
From the USMS rule book:
101.4 Backstroke
101.4.2 Stroke—Standing in or on the gutter, placing the toes above the lip of the gutter or bending the toes over the lip of the gutter immediately after the start is not permitted. The swimmer shall push off on the back and continue swimming on the back throughout the race. Some part of the swimmer must break the surface of the water throughout the race, except it shall be permissible for the swimmer to be completely submerged during the turn, at the finish and for a distance of not more than 15 meters (16.4 yards) after the start and each turn. By that point, the head must have broken the surface of the water.
My main question:
Upon reviewing the rules, I believe that I could break the surface of the water with my head before the 15 meter (16.4 yards) and then continue to swim underwater (SDK on my back) for the remaining part of the race as long as I held my pinkie above the water (or until I drown).
A minor question: most pools have lane markers embedded in the lane lines - how does one know if the markers are exactly 15 meters (16.4 yards). It does not appear that there is a stringent requirement to measure the markers (as opposed to the length of the pool).
A minor question: does the 15 meter rule hold for 25 yard competition. I was told that for 25 yard competition, the maximum allowable distance is 15 yards.
Respectfully yours,
My bad, I skimmed the posts too quickly. Yes, leaving a pinky or whatever above the water would make it legal past 15m, it seems to me.
But I cannot imagine it would be faster than swimming. It seems to me that there are two big reasons SDK is fast, even though you are giving up some propulsion (ie, from your arms): you are more streamlined, and you aren't making surface waves. You lose both of these if you stick an arm up to the surface. I think it would be a huge drag (no pun intended).
Over the years I have found myself naturally seeking deeper water off the pushoff and I think it makes my underwaters faster. My :2cents:, anyway.
Exactly.At race speed wave drag is the greatest drag.SDK is fast because you aren't making waves.As you get close to the surface you begin making waves.If you are close enough to the surface to have a finger out and maintain any sort of streamline you are going to be making waves.If you are deep with a finger at the surface then your arm will be extended well away from streamline and that will slow you down significantly.If you can dolphin kick at the surface faster than you can swim backstroke then the idea has some merit,but I doubt that is true for many.
My bad, I skimmed the posts too quickly. Yes, leaving a pinky or whatever above the water would make it legal past 15m, it seems to me.
But I cannot imagine it would be faster than swimming. It seems to me that there are two big reasons SDK is fast, even though you are giving up some propulsion (ie, from your arms): you are more streamlined, and you aren't making surface waves. You lose both of these if you stick an arm up to the surface. I think it would be a huge drag (no pun intended).
Over the years I have found myself naturally seeking deeper water off the pushoff and I think it makes my underwaters faster. My :2cents:, anyway.
Exactly.At race speed wave drag is the greatest drag.SDK is fast because you aren't making waves.As you get close to the surface you begin making waves.If you are close enough to the surface to have a finger out and maintain any sort of streamline you are going to be making waves.If you are deep with a finger at the surface then your arm will be extended well away from streamline and that will slow you down significantly.If you can dolphin kick at the surface faster than you can swim backstroke then the idea has some merit,but I doubt that is true for many.
