Backstroke - Nose Plugs

Posted by Glenn Mills on Nov 01, 2011 07:55AM (2,824 views)

Having a successful push off in backstroke means being able to stay under water long enough to take advantage of your underwater dolphin.

Since this is about a tool, there won't be the typical why, how, and fine points. It's just that simple.

For many people, being on our back under water means you have to release air so that water doesn't go up your nose. In the underwater dolphin, this may mean you'll run out of air prior to completing a great underwater dolpin push-off.

Some swimmers are able to equalize the pressure in their heads, which means no air comes out, and no water goes in. These are the lucky ones.

Other swimmers have faces suited for a special technique that allows them to push their lips up to cover their nostrils, which prevents water from going in, and allows them to hang on to more oxygen during the push-off.

If you're not lucky enough to be able to do either of those, nose plugs can be the trick for you. Putting on a pair of nose plugs means you won't have to worry about water going up your nose, or air coming out of your lungs. This will allow you to have better push-offs and turns in backstroke, which can mean better times.

Talk about fine points...if you don't think this is high level enough for you, check out the video of Missy Franklin breaking the World Record in the 200 backstroke a couple weeks ago. You'll notice at the :16 second mark as she's jumping in... nose plugs.

These also come in very handy for certain swimmers wearing snorkels.

For the video, and for much filming, we use the Finis Nose Clip.

backstroke, underwater dolpin, Finis

Responses

wiken6281	Responded Nov 01, 2011 03:04PM If you don't have a nose plug, you can also deal with the irritation of plugging the back of your throat/windpipe with the back/base of your tongue. Water goes into your nose, it stings a bit, but after a few tries you get used to it. I do this because I don't like wearing a nose plug because I feel constricted in my breathing. But it has been several YEARS since I tried it and might be able to get used to it...
Glenn Mills	Responded Nov 01, 2011 03:09PM Man... I honestly don't know if I could do that. Great skill to learn if you can do it.
Trev	Responded Nov 01, 2011 06:18PM I bought a noseplug a year or two ago, but have as of yet to try it. Short of plugging my nose with my lips (wow) or my esophagus with my tongue (double wow), I'm inspired now to throw down and actually use it. I saw Hayley McGregory rocking the noseplug at Trials a few years back, too.
Glenn Mills	Responded Nov 01, 2011 06:55PM Trev... you have to make sure you don't leave the pool with google rings and nose clips marks and then go for an audition. Unless... it's for the Walking Dead! ;)
Windrath	Responded Nov 02, 2011 02:13AM Started wearng nose plugs almost 30 years ago after 20 years without them - to eliminate sinus irritation. I am a backstroker too. Nose plugs are the best kept secret for strong swimmers. Not only do they make the water-up-the-nose problem a distant memory, they force a swimmer to breathe properly and completely instead of partially to keep water from going up their nose, improves streamlining, makes using a snorkel alot easier, and I can be upside down with my wife when she trains for her synchronized swimming routines. :) Getting a better exhale means getting rid of carbon dioxide build-up which means less chest pressure and fewer breaths. My distance free times dropped alot once I started wearing them full time. Takes about 3 months to get used to them - once you do, you will never go back. Good Luck.
Lisa	Responded Nov 02, 2011 07:13PM I'm one of those weird people who covers their nose with their lip. It looks ridiculous, but it's such an ingrained habit now that I do it every time I flip. The trick is to suck your lip up with your nose so it completely seals off the nose.
sprinter	Responded Nov 03, 2011 12:36PM Only dead fish swim on their backs :D joking A nose clip may solve the problem with the turns but waht about the swimming? How the hell do you guys breathe without your noses? Seriously! I need my nose :D I am able to squeeze my nostrils together with my face muscles, also resulting in a funny face... something like a 3 year old frowning and just about to cry for the toy he/she didn't get. :D It's not as efficient as a clip but it still works. I use a nose clip only on the up-side-down breaststroke drill.
Glenn Mills	Responded Nov 03, 2011 01:23PM I think, for educational purposes, we're going to need to see how you pinch your nostrils together with your facial muscles. Come on. :)
Windrath	Responded Nov 04, 2011 12:49AM Sprinter - That is the beauty of nose plugs. Done well, the swimmer incorporates a plan for breathing which includes exhaling for longer periods of time instead of explosive exhale through the mouth and nose. The result is a more complete elimination of carbon dioxide and a greater reduction in that chest pressure that makes a swimmer want to breathe. There are many benefits to this if you read up on the impact of carbon dioxide build-up in blood chemistry. Paul
sprinter	Responded Nov 04, 2011 08:19AM Haha, Glenn, I definitely won't show anyone pictures of that. Luckily I haven't seen any either :D Paul, I am sure nose clips help doing that however I am more worried about the amount of air going into the lungs rather than what goes out. I maybe gave up too quickly on the nose clips and I am sure if I try harder I can learn to swim with them, but honestly I chose not to.

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Backstroke - Nose Plugs

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