{"id":224882,"date":"2016-10-11T14:00:11","date_gmt":"2016-10-11T21:00:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/?p=224882"},"modified":"2016-10-11T13:32:31","modified_gmt":"2016-10-11T20:32:31","slug":"why-you-should-consider-rotating-less-in-backstroke","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/why-you-should-consider-rotating-less-in-backstroke\/","title":{"rendered":"Why You Should Consider Rotating Less in Backstroke"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Alec Scott, Swimming World College Intern.<\/em><\/p>\n

A recent trend in sprint backstroke has seen more and more top level athletes utilizing a flatter technique. Coaches and athletes are turning to flatter technique to get stroke rates up and increase speed. I asked Arizona State associate head coach Ryan Mallam<\/strong> as well as Alabama assistant coaches James Barber<\/strong> and Will Leonhart<\/strong> about their thoughts on flat backstroke and the common denominator with all of their answers was a higher stroke rate<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cObviously one benefit of a flatter stroke is it helps you get your rate up,\u201d Barber said. \u201cWhich is one way to increase velocity.\u201d<\/p>\n

While less rotation and a higher stroke rate does not necessarily translate into faster swimming, a slower rate is often due to over-rotating. According to USA swimming high performance consultant Russell Mark<\/strong><\/a>, it is unnecessary to rotate beyond 30 degrees on backstroke. Anything beyond that and the stroke rate is going to slow down and swimmers lose leverage for the \u201cside-crunch\u201d or \u201cwiggle\u201d where most of the pull power comes from.<\/p>\n

Coaches Leonhart and Barber both echoed the sentiment that a flatter stroke makes it easier for athletes to maintain core stabilization and keep their arms and legs connected. While some great athletes are able to stay connected with high rotation, it is easier for most athletes and novice swimmers to rotate less. One of Barber\u2019s swimmers, University of Alabama junior Connor Oslin,<\/strong> has won back-to-back SEC Championships in the 100-yard backstroke utilizing a flatter technique.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think as a coach, great athletes teach you innovation,\u201d Barber said. \u201cWhen you see someone do something a little bit differently and it\u2019s really successful, as a coach, it forces you to consider it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Coach\u00a0Mallam also pointed to a higher rate as the immediate benefit of a flatter stroke. But he also reiterated that most of the best backstrokers of all time, especially 200 backstrokers, used a lot of rotation and were still able to stay connected and swim with a lot of leverage.<\/p>\n

\u201cA flatter stroke does help with a quicker tempo but I also think the really good backstrokers get a little bit of leverage from the side crunch during the catch. (Aaron)<\/strong>\u00a0Peirsol<\/strong> was the king at that,\u201d Mallam said. \u201cIf you watch the 200 backstroke from 2007 Worlds in Melbourne, there’s a great overhead shot of (Ryan)<\/strong>\u00a0Lochte<\/strong> and Peirsol with a wiggle.\u201d<\/p>\n