When you watch Kaitlin swim backstroke, even at race pace, you can’t help but notice how steady she holds her head.   

This is something that nearly every world-class backstroker has mastered – keeping the head rock steady, with no side-to-side…or up-and-down movement.

Erik, at race pace, has the same steady head.  There’s almost no movement…no bobbing up and down.   Everything is channeled into forward motion.

What else do Kaitlin and Erik share?  Great rotation.  

Watch Erik…then Kaitlin, as they rotate shoulders, torso, hips, legs, and feet.

  

Another similarity between Erik and Kaitlin is rhythm.  

Notice how each one maintains a steady, consistent rhythm.   

Each stroke flows right into the next, with no hesitation at the start or the finish of each armstroke.  

They keep the tempo fairly high in order to maintain forward motion and momentum.  

The arms are always moving, with a steady, even rhythm.

From under water, we can see another similarity.  Watch how Erik catches the water immediately once his hand enters.  

Erik never lets his hand SIT on top of the water.  The hand enters and goes deep – right into the catch.

Erik’s full-body rotation lets him catch deep.  He can then engage the muscles all along his side to help him pull.  

He doesn’t over-extend and he doesn’t over-pull.  

Now let’s watch for this in Kaitlin’s stroke.       

Notice how her hand enters and goes immediately into the catch.  

From the side, you can see that great rotation leads to a deep catch, which leads to a powerful pull and constant forward motion.

As Kaitlin and Erik swim backstroke, watch for a Steady Head…

Full-Body Rotation…

Steady Rhythm…

And a catch that’s immediate and deep.


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Backstroke - Kaitlin and Erik