Backstroke: avoid hitting head
LiftHeavyWeights
Posts: 336 Member
When doing elementary backstroke or backstroke, how do you avoid hitting head when you reach the other side? How do you judge when you are near it? Any advice appreciated. Thanks in advance.
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This is what I hate about backstroke, although I swim a few lengths every workout. Look for landmarks in your pool that indicate you're getting close to the ends.0
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You know those flags overhead at each end of the pool? Those flags are for backstrokers. When you see the flags overhead, start counting how many strokes it takes you before you hit the wall and subtract one stroke from the total. The number you're left with is the number of strokes you should count each time you see the flags overhead so you'll know how close you are to the wall. Hope that helps!0
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To get an accurate stroke count from the flags to the wall, make sure you're at your swimming speed before you get to them. If you walk out to where the flags are & swim in from there your count won't be right because you have no momentum....0
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We don't have flag markers in our pool - instead I have to look for marks on the ceiling or, if I am swimming in one of the lanes by the wall, I look out of the corner of my eye for the steps as that means one stroke, end.0
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You can also look for skimmer openings, depth marks, different colored tiles, etc. - anything that will always be in the same place & you can see easily without having to turn all the way around will help. In a worst case scenario you can count how many strokes for a lap (or half lap, or from the lifeguard stand, etc.) & use that as your guide. Although it's easier to have a landmark closer to the end, anything will do in a pinch as long as you concentrate on keeping your stroke count accurately......0
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Thanks for the tips.
The flags are only across pool when the Spartan swim team is using it, then only 1 lane is available to everyone else, so not a good time to swim.
I will see if I can find something on the ceiling to guide me.0 -
If you don't have overhead flags for backstroke, look at the markers on the lane lines, on either side of you.0
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thank you conniekat8, will do0
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Personally, I would complain about not having flags overhead. All lap pools should have them.0
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They should, but a lot of pools where laps are done aren't strictly lap pools & flags were never thought of when they were built. A lot of these places won't drill into the concrete for the poles to hold the flags......0
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It can get annoying, but you can also try counting your strokes. For me, I know I have to do 16 backstrokes (8 cycles) and then turn over for my flip turn. I normally use the flags, but I count when there aren't any. Good luck!0
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Good ideas .. . I also need to figure out how to now look like a drunk swimmer when I do backstroke as I am like a bumper car out there!0
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Good ideas .. . I also need to figure out how to now look like a drunk swimmer when I do backstroke as I am like a bumper car out there!
Swimming backstroke in an outdoor pool is lots of fun. I'm still trying to get a handle on that.0 -
Good ideas .. . I also need to figure out how to now look like a drunk swimmer when I do backstroke as I am like a bumper car out there!
Swimming backstroke in an outdoor pool is lots of fun. I'm still trying to get a handle on that.
I lucked out. At my pool the pipes for the sprinklers in the ceiling run parallel to the lanes, so I just make sure to stay lined up with those.0 -
Assumes you'll have flags. My gym doesn't.You know those flags overhead at each end of the pool? Those flags are for backstrokers. When you see the flags overhead, start counting how many strokes it takes you before you hit the wall and subtract one stroke from the total. The number you're left with is the number of strokes you should count each time you see the flags overhead so you'll know how close you are to the wall. Hope that helps!0 -
Good ideas .. . I also need to figure out how to now look like a drunk swimmer when I do backstroke as I am like a bumper car out there!
Swimming backstroke in an outdoor pool is lots of fun. I'm still trying to get a handle on that.
What helps me a little is using looking from the bottom of my eyes & using the lane lines (or wall if there are no lane lines). It requires lifting the head a little bit to use the peripheral vision, but you don't need to keep it up all the time you don't needs to lift it far - just high enough & long enough to make sure you're still on track. The problem, as I get older, is my vision not being what it used to be so it's harder to pick up.......0 -
Good ideas .. . I also need to figure out how to now look like a drunk swimmer when I do backstroke as I am like a bumper car out there!
Swimming backstroke in an outdoor pool is lots of fun. I'm still trying to get a handle on that.
I lucked out. At my pool the pipes for the sprinklers in the ceiling run parallel to the lanes, so I just make sure to stay lined up with those.
Another thing you can use - if your pool has ceiling tiles, you can follow the grid work.......0 -
I have 3 different pools that I swim in. My local home pool and two others out of town that I use when on " Business trips " . In each pool I have been able to find Markers / Reference Points on the roof of the pool to use as my reference letting me know that I am close to hitting the Wall.
In one pool it is the Main Beams that support the roof that keep me in a straight line and the Emergency Power Fail Lights are my end of Lane indicator. In the other Pools it is the Ribs in the Metal sheets that cover the roof that keep me in a straight line and the Line of Sound Absorbing Panels that hang down from the ceiling at the end of the building which I use as my Head Banging Markers.
Of course every once in a while the Drunken Swimmer in me comes out and I lose concentration and end up on top a Lane rope or Smacking my Arm on the wall or my Head.0 -
When I feel I'm close, I actually look back to see where the wall is.
Also now that I've started with the tumble turns, I turn over at the last stroke before turning!0 -
Try backstroking in the sea and stop heading out to America - I live in the UK! I must have a stronger side so I trend in a circle.
But do you have near-stop buntin flags in your pool? Or if at home pool, can you rig one up? You could count how many strokes it takes to reach the wall after the buntin line and then you'll know when to turn.0 -
What helps with not bumping my head is to bump my hands first
Seriously though, if I see a ladder into the pool I've already hit my hand, thus that doesn't help. I can count filter inlets, which also doesn't really work as the last one is still too far away from the wall, or the total amount of stroke which is not ideal as I'm still trying to swim this stroke. What helps is to place a towel, chair or something else on the edges close to the walls. Assuming you're allowed to do that at your pool. In my case it's a pool from a small gated community which is usually empty at my swimming time. And even if not, nobody would mind.0 -
I guess one of the benefits of not being able to do the back stroke any more is that I no longer have to worry about that
Left shoulder doesn't have the range of motion for back stroke.0 -
Once you get within a yard or two of the wall, put an arm over head, kick the rest of the way. When your hand hits, you're there. Most lane lines are a different color for the first/last 5 yards. At the pool I run, the lane lines are blue & gold. Last/first 5 yards they are red - this is an indicator that you are close.0
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If your pool does not have backstroke flags, try finding another point of reference. If you can get in the far lane, you could use the lifeguard's chair? Another idea is to move some of the buoy beads a few feet from the wall and know to start reaching for the wall once you see the gap in the lane buoy. When I am in an outdoor pool I start feeling for the wall with my hand when I think I'm close.0
