Adding Freestyle & Backstroke Data

Freestyle and backstroke data collection works a little differently in the Go Swim app — here's exactly what to do.

In this tutorial, Glenn Mills walks through how to add race data for freestyle and backstroke events in the Go Swim app, and explains the key difference from breaststroke and butterfly: stroke cycle tracking.

For breaststroke and butterfly, both arms move together, so every stroke counts as one cycle. For freestyle and backstroke, you track one hand at a time — whichever hand hits first off the start or turn is the one you follow for that length. It may switch from lap to lap, but the rule stays the same: tag the first hand, and track it consistently throughout.

Using a 100 backstroke as a live example, Glenn demonstrates the full Pro Data workflow — finding the strobe for an accurate start, tracking strokes and turns in real time, finalizing the data, then refining the 15-meter marks and underwater velocity breakout points for each lap.

Once you understand the one-hand-per-cycle rule, freestyle and backstroke data collection is just as fast and straightforward as any other stroke.

🏊 New to the Go Swim app? Check out our full Import & Add Data tutorial to get started. 🏊 .