How To Do The Back Stroke Video

The backstroke is a great swim stoke that is best learned gradually. Get expert tips and advice in this swimming video.

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Thumbs out
Pinkies in
Bend elbows
Push
Use strong flutter kick
Rotate shoulders

About this Author

Phillip Toriello has 16 years of competitive swimming experience. 12 of those years he has been teaching and organizing swim events for swimmers of all levels and ages. He is has competed in all four strokes, and their corresponding events. Though his favorite race, is the individual medley. Phillip is the Aquatic Director at the high end Avila Bay Athletic Club.

PHILLIP TORIELLO: My name is Phillip Toriello, and this is how to do backstroke. With your basic knowledge of floating, the backstroke is actually a simple process. The sort of it, it is simply thumbs out, pinkie in, bend your elbow, and push motion with a strong flutter kick, to propel yourself through the water. The four basic steps of the backstroke includes your thumb out or down by your sides, thumb exiting the water, your arm rotating, palms out as you arm is going behind your head, bending your elbow, and pushing your hand back down toward your thigh. Now, as this arm is coming back or pushing down towards your thigh, your opposite hand will start to stroke, with your thumb out, pinkie in, bend your elbow, and push right back down toward your thigh, and just repeat the process. At that point, you will basically have your arm stroke for the backstroke. Another point to note is to rotate your shoulders, so basically your shoulder touches your chin with each stroke. This will help with the hydrodynamics in your body floating through the water, and will also help prevent any sort of injuries to your shoulders as you are working on the backstroke. The next step is basically to practice your kick. The best way to do this is, perhaps, lean on the stairs, put your legs out in front of you, and practice that same flutter kick that you use in freestyle. So, straight leg, pointed toe process with very little bend to the knees just enough to kind of feel flexible, but not a lot as to where you are preventing yourself from going forward. Try to find a facility that has backstrokes flags and learn about those and the distance it will take from those flags to the walls so you don't hit your fingers, causing a jammed fingers, hurting your elbows, or subsequently your head. To learn more about backstroke, please visit a swim coach or local swim instructor in your community.

How to Do the Back Stroke Video

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