Last week, Drew Gordon said it's possible for a swimmer to draft in meets if the swimmer gets very close to the lane lines.
This had me thinking: can you really gain something from drafting in a pool when you race? (Don't forget that drafting means you're BEHIND someone!)
And what about swimming near the lane lines in general? is it better than swimming right in the middle of the lane? For all styles?
And swimming in lane 8 or 1 (in a 10 lane pool like they had in Shanghai)?
Is it really far enough from the walls? (I think not but maybe it's just my imagination).
I've always thrown off a good drafting wake. Back in high school, on a LCM 1500 free, someone drafted off me from two lanes over. How do I know? He thanked me for it after the race. He did a best time.
So yes... with just one lane line in between... absolutely you can draft off someone.
-Rick
Last week, Drew Gordon said it's possible for a swimmer to draft in meets if the swimmer gets very close to the lane lines.
This had me thinking: can you really gain something from drafting in a pool when you race? (Don't forget that drafting means you're BEHIND someone!)
And what about swimming near the lane lines in general? is it better than swimming right in the middle of the lane? For all styles?
And swimming in lane 8 or 1 (in a 10 lane pool like they had in Shanghai)?
Is it really far enough from the walls? (I think not but maybe it's just my imagination).
To draft you must be in someones slipstream.If they are near the lane line on your side and you are near them they don't need to be much in front of you for you to benefit(think how close geese in flight are.)
If you are in front you want to be in the middle of the lane,or if there is only one swimmer who could draft off you you want to be near the opposite lane from them.
In the really well designed pools the outside lanes are as fast as the middle lanes,not in a poorly designed pool.
Definitely possible -
I once watched a women's backstroke race - think it was in the 2002 Commonwealth finals - anyway, one girl was literally sweeping the water from under the girl in the next lane, making it harder for that 2nd girl to get a good grip on her pull.
Kind of drafting in reverse?
I am pretty sure it is possible. I watched this one race where the guy was well behind, drafted for maybe 60% of the race then launched forward to win toward the end. It was a cool race, you should watch it.
‪men's 4x100 freestyle relay 2008 olympics (Full Race)‬ - YouTube
In the really well designed pools the outside lanes are as fast as the middle lanes,not in a poorly designed pool.
Is a really well designed pool intended to mean one that has overflow type gutters (either deck level or below deck level)? Or is there some other aspect of pool design that would make those outside lanes faster? If so, what would those aspects be?
Last week, Drew Gordon said it's possible for a swimmer to draft in meets if the swimmer gets very close to the lane lines.
This had me thinking: can you really gain something from drafting in a pool when you race? (Don't forget that drafting means you're BEHIND someone!)
And what about swimming near the lane lines in general? is it better than swimming right in the middle of the lane? For all styles?
And swimming in lane 8 or 1 (in a 10 lane pool like they had in Shanghai)?
Is it really far enough from the walls? (I think not but maybe it's just my imagination).
I've done it before and it works. If the other swimmer is faster than you or they take their race out harder, those are both good situations to move against the laneline and draft. Also, if you're in a relay and behind, sometimes you'll dive right into that sweet spot. That's exactly what Lezak did in the 400 free relay at Beijing. The key is finding the best time to make a move on the other swimmer, if you are capable of speeding up. As long as you're not circle swimming or hit your arms on the laneline, it doesn't really matter where you swim in the lane.
Last week, Drew Gordon said it's possible for a swimmer to draft in meets if the swimmer gets very close to the lane lines.
This had me thinking: can you really gain something from drafting in a pool when you race? (Don't forget that drafting means you're BEHIND someone!)
And what about swimming near the lane lines in general? is it better than swimming right in the middle of the lane? For all styles?
And swimming in lane 8 or 1 (in a 10 lane pool like they had in Shanghai)?
Is it really far enough from the walls? (I think not but maybe it's just my imagination).
Hell yeah it works! People do it in practice all the time (usually pissing off the draftee). You can do it right up behind someones feet, but the optimal position if from the middle of the thigh to the feet and to the side.....like geese that fly in a "V" formation. There was some discussion of it in our class at SwimFest 2011, especially for OW swimming.
I've drafted off Olympians before and while it "helps" there is no substitution for training. Perhaps one of the most notable drafts was Jason Lezak on the 4x100 Free relay in Beijing.:applaud:
