Backstroke Technique: How to finish your race
Is it better to finish your backstroke race on the surface or underwater? The answer depends on how you finish the race.
There are two known facts related to the backstroke finish that are indisputable. First, there is less drag caused by a relatively streamlined swimmer underwater than caused by the same shaped swimmer on the surface. Second, the shortest distance between two points is a straight line.
Both these facts come into play on the backstroke finish. Since the backstroker is always on the surface near the finish, the shortest distance to the wall would be to remain on the surface. If the backstroker submerges into a deep dive into the wall, the pathway is too long. It takes too long to get there. However, a backstroker underwater remaining close to the surface might be faster than one finishing on the surface.
More important than either technique, surface or underwater, is the speed of the swimmer at the finish of the race. The speed at the finish is mostly determined the by the propulsion from the final pull and kick(s) and how close the swimmer is to the wall when the final stroke is taken. If either or both of those propulsive efforts are weak, then neither finish technique will be good. If the final stroke is taken too far away from the wall, then the swimmer will slow too much before reaching the wall.
I have tested the backstroke finish with our Velocity Meter (VM) only one time. The results from two finishes of each technique were equivocal. Finishing underwater was slightly faster with the first test and finishing on the surface was slightly faster with the second test. Both times, the results were close, within .1 seconds of each other.
Once we receive our new Race Club sensors, we will test the backstroke finish again several times. I will report the results at that time.
In the meantime, it is safe to advise that whether finishing on the surface or underwater, finish hard into the wall with speed. Just be sure to extend the wrist back some at the finish so you don’t jam your fingers into the touchpad.
The best way to accomplish a great backstroke finish is to practice (without fins) often. Then, you should know precisely where you are, once spotting the flags, with respect to the wall when you decide to take your final stroke. You don’t want to be too close nor too far away from the wall. With either technique, always finish with speed to the touch pad.
Yours in Swimming,
Gary Sr.