How do the swimmers know when to flip at the end of the pool when they are doing the backstroke?
Before you chime in with the knee-jerk answer I think many of you might chime in with, I’ve been watching this stuff on TV, and they definitely do not appear to be looking at anything on the ceiling or peripherally at where the lane ropes change color.
I find it hard to believe it’s simply from counting their strokes and knowing from endless repetition. You have to be exact enough so that your legs are still extended and you have just enough room to get a good push-off to return down the pool.
Well, there are flags that are over the pool, and the swimmer knows exactly how many strokes to the wall from there. But actually, the swimmers at the Olympic level do a stroke count so they know exactly how many strokes it takes before they have to turn. It’s all about practice.
I forget to mention that this is true for every stroke. If you watch the breastroke and butterfly events more often then not, the swimmers’ arms are at full extention right as they get to the wall.
I think you are underestimating their peripheral vision. The reason why the lane ropes change colors is so backstrokers know where the wall is. They also use peripheral vision to stay in their lanes.
As a swimmer who sometimes did backstroke on a swim team (freestyle was my usual), I can tell you that I used the flags to know how much further it was to the wall. It’s been a while, so I can’t quite remember, but I think I was coached to do it this way.
Swimmers in general, especially backstrokers, are known for having meticulously regular strokes. Backstrokers generally keep their eyes right at the ceiling (goggles severely limit peripheral vision) and don’t move their heads, as it can keep them from going in a straight line.
In Olympic sized pools, the flags are usually a standard distance from the wall. Each swimmer has a stroke count. That is, when they see the flags, they’ll count down the number of strokes until they hit the wall.
Incidentally, the back stroke flip turn involves the swimmer turning over so that they are on their stomach, flipping, and then kicking off and resuming the stroke. If a swimmer miscounts when they flip over, they cannot kick or overhand stroke to the end of the pool; they can only rely on their own momentum to get them to it. When a fraction of a second is the difference between medals, you can see the need for precision.
The other flip turn (done in freestyle) consists of reaching the wall, flipping, kicking off the wall and then twisting around after they have kicked.
Breast and back stroke require two hand touches before turning.
And if you want to see some cool backstroke flipturns, check some tape of the Olympics in '84, it was a lot different (and slower) then. Now the back flipturn is pretty much the same as the free one. If anyone wants a lesson in either…let me know…