Face Submerged During Hand Entry Phase on Backstroke?

I can kick and float on back with and without sculling water and my face barely gets wet. However, when I try to backstroke my face submerges during the hand entry phrase and floats back up. Is this normal? I've seen people do backstroke at the pool and their face remains out of the water the whole time. I recently read an article online titled "Semi-Submerged Backstroke Are you in over your head yet?" and the author states it is normal for the face to go underwater when doing the backstroke. Is this correct information?

[CoachBobM]

Normal in the sense of proper or normal in the sense of usual?

I was just watching a video of Olympic champion Ryan Lochte swimming backstroke, and I can guarantee you that his face stayed above the water at all times. And this makes sense, scientifically speaking. Your drag in the water is minimized when your body is perfectly horizontal, but if your head is bobbing up and down as you swim, that implies that it is not staying perfectly horizontal. Because of this, some backstrokers actually practice their stroke while balancing a cup partially filled with water on their forehead to make them more aware of any head bobbing that may be occurring as they swim, so they can minimize it.

If you are rolling to your hand lead sweet spot as your recovering hand enters the water, this should cause your hand to rotate so that your little finger is entering the water first, which will keep your hand from slapping the water as it enters, and that should help to minimize head bobbing.


Bob

[daveblt]

I think it is normal that for some people water may wash over your face during the stroke ,maybe depending on your body type or if you don't balance too well and you need to lean back more to get your hips up but your head shouldn't bob up and down.

Dave

[fooboo]

More information is needed for proper answer.
There is a chance you do not keep face looking up. If it follows an arm,
I assume it would be in the water finally.
Fine is to lean a bit on back part of the chest, to get a balance. Head
should be relaxed, with chin toward chest, like you look at your feet.
You will know what is good, when you feel less drag.
The very problem also might be something else. If you post no more,
none can help.