Season is nearly over for me and so it's time to start planning next season.
One of my goals is to improve my dives and my starts in general.
I've been doing some reading about this lately, but I would still appreciate tips and explanation on how to dive.
Moreover, I read Wayne's article on Grab start Vs. Track Start (with ref. to the PowerStart website) . I noticed that swimmers still use the track start and experimented with both styles. I found out I enter the water smoother when I track start but I travel longer when I do the Grab Start.
Next week I'll be working with a coach on this but I'd like to learn more before I do, so I can understand the technique better before I meet the coach and focus on the fine points with him, instead of wasting my time on basics.
Here's a link to Wayne's article:
breaststroke.info/IstheGrabStartDeadrev2.htm
Here's another YouTube link I found:
‪The Finer Points of a Good Swimming Start‬ - YouTube
PowerStart website:
http://www.quickgetaway.com/
So Russel Mark is claiming one should KEEP LOW whereas Wayne and that PowerStart website would like to see swimmers jump UP.
Physicswise, the best way to jump high and far would be to leave the blocks at a 45 degree angle - which is why I tend to adopt the second approach I mentioned.
Here's what I'm talking about:
‪Freestyle Start‬ - YouTube
(watch the second swimmer)
And this is Joe Jackson talking about her dives:
‪Gatorade Swimming Masterclass: Dive Starts with Joanne Jackson World Record Swimmer‬ - YouTube
Notice that unlike what R.Mark said, she isn't pulling the blocks with her hands. Her hands leave the blocks as her legs start to move.
To cut a long story short, my questions are (what is nowadays considered better and why?):
Hand - grabbing or just touching the blocks?
Do they stay behind the CM or are they being thrown forward?
(behind= ‪Phelps-track-start-arms-late‬ - YouTube
(Thrown forward= ‪Freestyle Start‬ - YouTube)
Head - looking DOWN or AT THE FLAGS?
Legs - I tend to enter the water straight but then my legs sort of fold and slow me down. Like the third swimmer in this clip:
‪Freestyle Start‬ - YouTube
Any tips as for how to correct this?
And last but not least, where else can I find information on dives? (couldn't find anything in the forum surprisingly)
The most important part of the start is the entry.Your must enter your body all through the same "hole".Any dive that you can't do that 100 % is not a good dive.If you have strong legs I definitely think you want to jump a little up(air is not nearly as dense as water.)
I believe you said you are a High School/USA-S swimmer.If so I think you definitely want to do the track start.It is more stable and my observation is that USA-S officials are not as forgiving of twitches on the block as Masters officials are(which is the only area I know where they are more strict.)Also you will probably be the only one using a grab start and the officials will probably be watching you more closely.It doesn't matter how fast your start is if it ends up a DQ.If you test and find your grab start is definitely faster than your track start, talk to the officials before you swim so you and they are on the same page.
The most important part of the start is the entry.Your must enter your body all through the same "hole".Any dive that you can't do that 100 % is not a good dive.If you have strong legs I definitely think you want to jump a little up(air is not nearly as dense as water.)
I believe you said you are a High School/USA-S swimmer.If so I think you definitely want to do the track start.It is more stable and my observation is that USA-S officials are not as forgiving of twitches on the block as Masters officials are(which is the only area I know where they are more strict.)Also you will probably be the only one using a grab start and the officials will probably be watching you more closely.It doesn't matter how fast your start is if it ends up a DQ.If you test and find your grab start is definitely faster than your track start, talk to the officials before you swim so you and they are on the same page.
Hi Alen, could you please explain in more details, what's the problem with grab start and which are the cases when you can get DQ while doing it?
Personally I prefer doing track start but sometimes when the block is slippery I do grab start because once I was very close to injury when did a track start in such case. My foot standing behind slipped of the block and it hit the block :-(
Hi Allen, thanks!
You said the most important thing to do is to enter through the same hole.
I seem to bend my legs when I jump (hands, head and torso do, however, enter through the same hole). Is there any drill or tip you know of to help me fix this?
Thanks again!
Hi Alen, could you please explain in more details, what's the problem with grab start and which are the cases when you can get DQ while doing it?
Personally I prefer doing track start but sometimes when the block is slippery I do grab start because once I was very close to injury when did a track start in such case. My foot standing behind slipped of the block and it hit the block :-(
With the grab start it is much easier to lean a little too far over and have to jerk yourself back into balance.At a masters meet they have enough of us old rickety types doing grab starts that this is generally tolerated. At a USA-S meet that is may be considered a false start.
With the grab start it is much easier to lean a little too far over and have to jerk yourself back into balance.At a masters meet they have enough of us old rickety types doing grab starts that this is generally tolerated. At a USA-S meet that is may be considered a false start.
Are you saying that you can be DQ'ed on the start without even having entered the water?
Are you saying that you can be DQ'ed on the start without even having entered the water?
That's a really good question. I would think not. If the starter says "stand up" I don't think you can be DQ'ed unless you go into the water.
Nearly all of my swimmers (6-12 year olds!) have trouble keeping their legs straight on the start. I've had some luck with going to the diving end of the pool and practicing dives off the side, watching your legs. Keep in mind that this puts your head in too low a position for a "real" start, but it does provide instant feedback to make sure you're keeping your legs straight.
Personally, I use a track start for a "flat" start because it is a lot more stable. During my college years (this will clearly show that I am indeed old) the rules changed so that if you had one false start you were DQ'd. I eventually found that the track start was nearly as good if you use your arms to initially get yourself moving forward. To get more leverage on the block, if you keep your weight slightly on the back foot and bend your elbows, it puts your arms so that if you pull you're not just pulling straight down. Pull hard, but pull forward.
For a relay start I have both feet forward, or step into that position, with toes curled over the block. I think this position provides more power, as you are pushing directly back on the block instead of smearing your foot into the side. But in either case, getting your body through the same hole in the water has more to do with the quality of the start. For this, you might want to have someone film your start and look to see what body position provides the cleanest entry.
Good luck!
Natalie Coughlin was DQed after winning the 100 last month at Santa Clara meet because she twitched on the block. They didn't have the swimmers stand up. So you can be DQed for movement on the block.
I don't know about that meet,but I have heard of swimmers DQd for twitching on the blocks,or twitching during backstroke starts.If you twitch immediately before or as the gun goes off you will probably be DQd even if you are the last off the blocks.
I don't know about that meet,but I have heard of swimmers DQd for twitching on the blocks,or twitching during backstroke starts.If you twitch immediately before or as the gun goes off you will probably be DQd even if you are the last off the blocks.
What's the difference between twitching and just adjusting yourself?
After they say, "take your mark," how much time do they give you to be at the mark?
There must be starter in here somewhere, but if there is movement after the field has taken their mark and all are still, the starter should request for them to stand if possible. I was started in Atlanta and heard the multiple beeps after the field was off- they had to drop the rope, so it is not always possible to stand the swimmers.
