Backstroke

RE: Backstroke

Jeff Enge — Sat, 27 Jan 2018 03:50:20 GMT

a) Pulling pattern of your right arm is quite different than the left arm. For the most part, the left arm pattern is good - elbow bend, depth, etc. The right arm pattern is more straight arm and deeper release. This will definitely slow tempo when you try to race. Making the right arm more like the left will help. This is definitely something I need to work on. My right shoulder is a bit weaker than my left, it's definitely a bit "worn out" from back near the end of my college career. Just need to more actively think about it. Great backstroke! Thanks for sharing this with us. You already pinpointed many of the issues you need to work on. I'd like to share one screenshot (below) that I think will highlight the issue of your transition from the right side to the left side. You'll need to work on this transition and the rotation that is inherent to this. Improving the backstroke will take time, but it's time well-spent and will pay off in the end. Good luck! I think I figured out something related to this - I've been swimming backstroke as more of a "front 1/4" stroke like freestyle, but the more I play with it recently, the more I think that is counterproductive and might be the cause of both the late rotation and slow stroke rate. I will work on this more. Do you have any video at a less relaxed speed that might belay my fears about kick frequency and core/body position? No, I should have plopped the camera down during some of my pace work today but I didn't think about it. I will try to get some next week. Thanks for the input, guys!

RE: Backstroke

Redbird Alum — Sat, 27 Jan 2018 02:06:15 GMT

Hiya! Your hips seem low in the water to me, possibly due to having "slowed down" your kick. Core is critical in the backstroke and maintaining horizontal body position through to the feet as well. Do you have any video at a less relaxed speed that might belay my fears about kick frequency and core/body position? Matt

RE: Backstroke

Windrath — Fri, 26 Jan 2018 12:10:53 GMT

There are two aspects of your backstroke that you might want to experiment with: a) Pulling pattern of your right arm is quite different than the left arm. For the most part, the left arm pattern is good - elbow bend, depth, etc. The right arm pattern is more straight arm and deeper release. This will definitely slow tempo when you try to race. Making the right arm more like the left will help. b) With your UDK, it looks like you might be emphasizing the kick in the upward direction (towards the surface). This results in the greater amplitude you see. Try focusing a bit more on the "downward" kick (towards the bottom). This means pressing the bottoms of your feet towards the bottom without much knee bend. Streamline dolphin kicking on your back on the surface can help you develop a better feel if you are not quite getting it. Less knee bend and more hip undulation might be another way to think of it. I think that once you are able to refine the right arm, you will be able to increase your kick tempo. Right now, your kick has to slow down to stay connected to your arm tempo. Good Luck. PW

RE: Backstroke

orca1946 — Fri, 26 Jan 2018 12:03:51 GMT

OK. Maybe try to rotate your hips a bit more to help with the kick.

RE: Backstroke

Swimspire — Fri, 26 Jan 2018 08:17:37 GMT

Great backstroke! Thanks for sharing this with us. You already pinpointed many of the issues you need to work on. I'd like to share one screenshot (below) that I think will highlight the issue of your transition from the right side to the left side. You'll need to work on this transition and the rotation that is inherent to this. Improving the backstroke will take time, but it's time well-spent and will pay off in the end. Good luck! 11454

RE: Backstroke

Jeff Enge — Thu, 25 Jan 2018 12:50:50 GMT

It's not any kind of race/fast pace at all - just some stretch it out 50s near the end of practice, trying to maintain a "normal" stroke and not look overly pretty compared to practice or race pace. Attempting to catch glitches at slower pace to make the fixes muscle memory for faster pace.

RE: Backstroke

orca1946 — Thu, 25 Jan 2018 12:31:18 GMT

Are you doing a 200 or a 50? That is my speed for a 200. Yes, a faster kick will help if you can sustain it.