The Breaststroke Lane

[Allen Stark]

Let's face it, allowing a dolphin kick during the breaststroke pullout opened a big can of worms. I think the rule should revert to not allowing a dolphin kick at all. It makes no sense to me that you should be able to use a kick that is illegal during the surface portion of the stroke during the pullout.

I totally agree,the whole dolphin kick thing is a total mess.

[ande]

Let's face it, allowing a dolphin kick during the breaststroke pullout opened a big can of worms. I think the rule should revert to not allowing a dolphin kick at all. It makes no sense to me that you should be able to use a kick that is illegal during the surface portion of the stroke during the pullout.

FINA needs to clarify breastroke rules, one problem is it's easy to have underwater cameras at big budget meets like nats NCAAs worlds, pan pacs the olympics but rules need to be clear and judging needs to be easy at age group and summer league meets where there are hoards of kids and heats & no budget for underwater cameras

[Allen Stark]

Thanks to Elaine's generous husband Bruce, we have,



I just started swimming breaststroke events this year. I decided I like the 200 best; this is the first time I've done this event LCM. I was pretty happy with the time & the splits.

Splits were 47.44 + 51.88 (1:39.32 ) + 53.52 + 51.88 (1:45.40) = 3:24.72

Any & all comments welcome!

Really a great swim for a first LCM 200 BR.
There are a few things I notice.On the start you were too shallow causing waves on the surface before your breakout.
On the first breath after the breakout on the start and every turn you raise your head too much.
You are usually good about having your head in line with your body during the streamline after recovering the arms,but not every time.
On your pull ,you lead a little with your elbows and your pull is very narrow.I think you could get more power with a slightly wider pull and leading with your forearms and hands(think EVF). You also pull just a little further back than I think is optimal,try bringing your elbows back no further than your shoulders.
Most of the time you do a good job in keeping your hips up,but that is not consistent(possibly related to sometimes having your head too high) and at those times you are swimming "up hill".
Again though,this is a good swim,keep it up.

[knelson]

rules need to be clear and judging needs to be easy at age group and summer league meets where there are hoards of kids and heats & no budget for underwater cameras

I think underwater cameras would be great at major meets, but there's no need for them at all levels. Make it clear that any inkling of a dolphin kick will be grounds for a DQ and then actually enforce the rule and I think you'll find all of a sudden swimmers can do a pullout without a dolphin kick.

[TRYM_Swimmer]

I totally agree,the whole dolphin kick thing is a total mess.

++++1

[TRYM_Swimmer]

I think underwater cameras would be great at major meets, but there's no need for them at all levels. Make it clear that any inkling of a dolphin kick will be grounds for a DQ and then actually enforce the rule and I think you'll find all of a sudden swimmers can do a pullout without a dolphin kick.

Was doing it for 55 years. Learned to do it this year for SCY Nats. Could easily go back.

[Swimosaur]

Really a great swim for a first LCM 200 BR.
There are a few things I notice.On the start you were too shallow causing waves on the surface before your breakout.
On the first breath after the breakout on the start and every turn you raise your head too much.
You are usually good about having your head in line with your body during the streamline after recovering the arms,but not every time.
On your pull ,you lead a little with your elbows and your pull is very narrow.I think you could get more power with a slightly wider pull and leading with your forearms and hands(think EVF). You also pull just a little further back than I think is optimal,try bringing your elbows back no further than your shoulders.
Most of the time you do a good job in keeping your hips up,but that is not consistent(possibly related to sometimes having your head too high) and at those times you are swimming "up hill".
Again though,this is a good swim,keep it up.

Allen ... Thanks for the tips!

I heard,

• Keep head lower on the breakouts.
• Keep head aligned during glide phase, every time!
• Wider pull, higher elbows, EVF.
• Elbows no further back than shoulders.
• Hips up, every time!

After looking at the video, it seems to me that it might be possible to keep my head lower throughout. Starts: The pool I train in does not allow practice starts, so it's going to be hard to work on starts.

Thanks for the tips! With luck, I will get another shot at this event during SCM season.

[ElaineK]

Really a great swim for a first LCM 200 BR...
Again though,this is a good swim,keep it up.

Hey there, K.F.! I told Swimosaur the same thing; I thought it looked great! I knew you would be able to spot things I couldn't catch, so thanks for helping him out. I can learn from it, too, by watching the video again and looking for what you pointed out. Thanks!

Hey, Swimosaur! You are off to a great start! See? I told you so!

[ande]

Kevin Cordes' Only Goal in Sophomore Year: Keep Getting Faster
-- August 20, 2012
Feature by Jeff Commings

[Warren]

I found this video of Akihiro Yamaguchi's wr in the 200 breast.

[nomedia="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bF9XNk7iARk"]å±±å�£è¦³å¼˜ã€€å¹³æ³³ã�Žï¼’ï¼�ï¼�ï½�ã€€ä¸–ç•Œæ–°è¨ ˜éŒ² Yamaguchi Akihiro breaststroke - YouTube[/nomedia]

[Allen Stark]

I found this video of Akihiro Yamaguchi's wr in the 200 breast.

å±±å�£è¦³å¼˜ã€€å¹³æ³³ã�Žï¼’ï¼�ï¼�ï½�ã€€ä¸–ç•Œæ–°è¨ ˜éŒ² Yamaguchi Akihiro breaststroke - YouTube

Wow,that was great.He sped up the last about 5 M each length and then blasted the final 50.Amazing!

[ande]

Diving Deeper Into Akihiro Yamaguchi's World Record
September 25, 2012
Feature by Jeff Commings

[robertsrobson]

Insane! So smooth, beautiful glide. If only...

[Allen Stark]

News Flash-our own"The Fortress" ,the same one who actually coined the term "evil stroke" ,went 36.92 SCM for the 50 BR.I told her she has a good BR and hope she finally believes it.Way to go Leslie

[Debugger]

Here's my 200 SCM breaststroke - I swam it 3rd time in my life (Lane 4)
Time: 2'54"47
My splits were:
25m - 0'18"23 (7 strokes / 25m)
50m - 0'40"59 (22"36) (7 strokes / 25m)
75m - 1'02"59 (22"00) (7 strokes / 25m)
100m - 1'25"05 (22"46) (7 strokes / 25m)
125m - 1'47"74 (22"69) (8 strokes / 25m)
150m - 2'10"42 (22"68) (8 strokes / 25m)
175m - 2'33"11 (22"69) (8 strokes / 25m)
200m - 2'54"47 (21"36) (10 strokes / 25m)

Any comments appreciated. What do you think I should work on to slice my time to 2'45?

[Allen Stark]

Here's my 200 SCM breaststroke - I swam it 3rd time in my life (Lane 4)
Time: 2'54"47
My splits were:
25m - 0'18"23 (7 strokes / 25m)
50m - 0'40"59 (22"36) (7 strokes / 25m)
75m - 1'02"59 (22"00) (7 strokes / 25m)
100m - 1'25"05 (22"46) (7 strokes / 25m)
125m - 1'47"74 (22"69) (8 strokes / 25m)
150m - 2'10"42 (22"68) (8 strokes / 25m)
175m - 2'33"11 (22"69) (8 strokes / 25m)
200m - 2'54"47 (21"36) (10 strokes / 25m)

Any comments appreciated. What do you think I should work on to slice my time to 2'45?

It looks really good.I could never get a good look at your kick,so i can't comment on it.Your first breath off the turn you tend to come up to high.Your hips are a little low at the end of your kick,snap forward a little more on the recovery.Your turns need work,especially as you get tired you tend to twist a little(rotate along the horizontal axis).Hit the turn,get into a tight ball,drive the lower elbow back hard and roll in a tight ball.
Over all a really good swim and the corrections I made are pretty much the ones I need to keep in mind for myself too.

[Debugger]

It looks really good.I could never get a good look at your kick,so i can't comment on it.Your first breath off the turn you tend to come up to high.Your hips are a little low at the end of your kick,snap forward a little more on the recovery.Your turns need work,especially as you get tired you tend to twist a little(rotate along the horizontal axis).Hit the turn,get into a tight ball,drive the lower elbow back hard and roll in a tight ball.
Over all a really good swim and the corrections I made are pretty much the ones I need to keep in mind for myself too.

Thanks Allen! I know that my start and turns are disaster - they get even worse when I'm sprinting. Another problem is that I can't reach my toes with my fingertips while keeping straight legs, so the ball isn't that tight.
Which drills might help to lift up hips at the end of the kick?

[Allen Stark]

Which drills might help to lift up hips at the end of the kick?

1)Try BR pull with dolphin kick,really working on undulation.
2) BR kick with your hands at your sides,breathing every stroke.If you don't get your hips up you probably can't breath.

[Debugger]

1)Try BR pull with dolphin kick,really working on undulation.
2) BR kick with your hands at your sides,breathing every stroke.If you don't get your hips up you probably can't breath.

I must be on the right way because I do both drills regularly and I don't experience any discomfort.

[ElaineK]

HAPPY NEW YEAR, fellow frogs!

I'm back with yet another video of my breaststroke, in hopes my technique has improved, since I last posted. (I can only hope...). This video is of my 50 breaststroke, minus the last stroke, because my husband shut off the camera too soon. As for speed, it's a bit off, due to this being my 6th day of training in a row. But, what I am looking for, is constructive criticism of my pullout, stroke, and turn. I really tried to keep my arms straight on recovery; this was the best I could do:

I also have a video of my breaststroke pull drill and would appreciate any feedback on this one, as well:

Again, this is as straight as I can get my arms (and as hunched as I can get my shoulders) on recovery.

Thank you (in advance) for your help!