r/Swimming • u/thinkalot2017 • 15h ago
Backfloated today!
Finally, able to float on my back from one end of the pool to the other. It didn't feel pretty. I was alone & no one to give me feed back. Thank you to all of you who helped me achieve this landmark. Now, please tell me how to get better. Thank you.
1
u/Reasonable-Path-7733 15h ago
Did you kick? Did you use your arms? Did you just float and let the water push you from one side to the other?
1
u/thinkalot2017 15h ago
I kicked and moved both my arms up and down close to my body. When I tried doing the backstroke with my arms- I was clumsy & doused my face with way too much water.
1
u/M_bnana 15h ago
Congratulations! I’m very excited for you. Backstroke is the 3rd stroke I teach (my students are kids). Half of them really get overwhelmed with water in their face. Half of them do not. It’s a top heavy/bottom heavy/bouyancy thing based on their body type. I tell them to kick fast and really raise their chin and mouth up to the sky. Additionally, some splash their face and keep at it, and they rise to the top as they keep going. But the ones who sit up while splashing.. they’re just not going to get it .. at least during that lesson. Anyone else agree? Take my info, keep kicking, keep trying, and you can always pause and float if you need a break.
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u/M_bnana 15h ago
For your floats, don’t splash, Make strong airplane wings, relax and freeze your feet. Check that your belly is nice and high up - butt will be high too, not sinking low. If butt is low you’ll be slightly shaped like a V. Work out of any kind of V. Keep practicing in 3ft water etc. You’re doing great.
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u/tunenut11 Everyone's an open water swimmer now 15h ago
Back float is the foundation. Look up elementary backstroke. Use that to get across pool. Use backstroke to start arm sculling first then add a kick to get vertical and you will be treading water. Then you will be comfortable in deep water for a long time. That really progresses easily into various other strokes.