Backstroke Start

SWIMMER Magazine Backstroke Starts

Backstroke Start in Slow Motion: Are his elbows pointed out to the side or down when in the starting position?

The Race Club - Backstroke Starts

Backstroke Start Drill "AKA Butt Plop": The main thing you are working on here is to go as far and high as possible with your hips. Do the hips move in a rainbow-like shape?

Now take a look at the following two Backstrokers and look at their starting head position. Who does the better start, the swimmer who has their hips away from their ankles or the one who has their hips almost touching their ankles?

Matt Grevers (USA) Wins 100m Backstroke Gold - London 2012 Olympics: Pause the video at 3:53 and what kind of starts do you see? Are they crouching like a pill bug or are their backs pretty straight? Are their elbows pointed out to the side or down? What kind of head position do they have? How high are the hips in the water? How close are the hips to their ankles?

The Power of the Underwater Streamline Dolphin Kick. This is the reason why the following rule was put in place. After both starts and turns, a swimmer’s head must break the surface at a distance no greater than 15 meters. This rule applies to Freestyle, Backstroke, and Butterfly. If a technique is so powerful that they put a rule against it, then why wouldn't you take full advantage of it and swim the body dolphin for no more than 15 meters? Did Matt Grevers and his competitors (in the previous Olympic video) use it?

Underwater Kick - with Michael Phelps & Lenny Krayzelburg

Backstroke Head Position

After both starts and turns, a swimmer’s head must break the surface at a distance no greater than 15 meters. This rule applies to Freestyle, Backstroke, and Butterfly. - See more at: http://www.kiefer.com/blog/15-meter-resurfacing-marker-underwater-swimming-rule#sthash.6iYbmXXB.dpuf

Backstroke with Junya Koga - Head Position: This one is a tad bit complicated however, the take home message is to look at his head position when he swims. Are his ears in the water? Does it look like he is laying on a giant pool sized pillow? Also, take this time to preview and study the shape of his pull.

Back Balance Head Position for Freestyle and Backstroke by Takeuchi

Head Lead Backstroke Drill: Are the swimmer's ears in the water? Does it look like she is wearing a hoodie made out of water? Is she looking straight up?

Backstroke Arms

Ryan Lochte | Backstroke Stroke Technique: How deep does the hand move, during the catch, before the elbow bends? What shape does the hand move underwater? Do you see the slight "S" shape at the end of the pull?

One Arm Backstroke

Backstroke Kick

Ryan Lochte | Backstroke Kick Technique: How much of his foot pops out when he kicks? Does it look like he is flicking a pair of sandals off his feet when he kicks up?

Backstroke Flip Turn

Ryan Lochte | Backstroke Turn Technique

Real Time Backstroke Turn

Good Backstroke Drills

Backstroke - Learning Spin Drill

The Best Backstrokers in the World!

Try and see what techniques these great swimmer have in common.

Matt Grever's Love for the Backstroke and the Perfect Race!

Missy Franklin Win's 100m Backstroke Gold - London 2012 Olympics: Did you see how deadly the underwater streamline body dolphin is? Do these swimmers body dolphin up until they get close to the red 15 meter lane line marker?

Warren Swimming Technique

Tuesday, January 6, 2015

Introduction to Backstroke