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)
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.
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.