track starts

I'm left-footed but my right leg is my strong leg. The right leg is planted while the left foot is kicking a ball or whatever. OK, with seeing that, I'm the same as you. :afraid:

I became a convert after nationals last spring, while breaking out after a grab start in the 100 free. It's not a race I swim often, nor particularly well these days, but in any case I figured I shouldn't be more than half a body length behind the guy next to me after the start. So how much time does the track start save you -v- the grab start? I'm assuming you've done timed swims with each and compared the times? It sounds like there's an issue with your grab start. I've never been far behind others in my heats off the block, and in some cases I've been ahead of them. I have no idea which they're doing, as I'm concentrating on myself, but I'd assume about half(ish) are doing each.

I'd like to hear about this too. I recently did my first meet in about 40 years and I did a "track" because everyone else was doing it. It felt pretty good, even tho I hadn't practiced it - otoh, I had so much adrenaline going that I don't remember much....Tom

I'm a bit confused. I just switched over to the track start this year and have always put my strong leg forward, like I would in a running race. It just seems much more natural to me. But the USA Swimming instructions say to have the strong leg back. For those of you experienced track starters, which do you prefer? Thanks for any feedback. I use track for Free but grab for Fly and ***... Free style I used the best leg back and have gotten used to it. I theorise that best leg forward feels better from a balance and power POV. Having the back leg behind probably allows for a stronger, smoother forward push and reduces the risk of any lateral "wobble" that a weaker leg might have. My front leg feels "crunched up" due to the block angle with the leg poised for a upwards power motion (until the body gets propelled forwards beyond it). That's my thoughts anyhow... haven't done coaching investigation into it.

I'm a bit confused. I just switched over to the track start this year and have always put my strong leg forward, like I would in a running race. It just seems much more natural to me. But the USA Swimming instructions say to have the strong leg back. For those of you experienced track starters, which do you prefer? Thanks for any feedback. I don't know what my strong leg is, but I do my track starts the same way I ride a snowboard, goofy, with the right foot forward.

If I asked you to hop around on one leg, which leg would you choose? That's your strong leg. I've always done track starts and my strong leg goes forward. Me too, then. Yes, you actually made me hop on one foot.

One advantage is your body is getting forward motion sooner. Some of the blocks have track start ledges for the rear foot, which I would like to try. Then again I'd like to have a ledge underwater for my backstroke start too.

The most important thing on the start is that you can consistently get all your body through the same spot on entry(diving "through the keyhole".)The start that helps you do that is the best start for you. Exactly! When you hit your entry correctly you get a sense of acceleration right after entry. If your body creates turbulance it's like putting on the brakes. I've gotten to be more consistent hitting a clean entry with the track start so I've made the switch. I'm still toying with weight forward/neutral/back, initial head position and what to do with my arms.

Allen - I'm curious if you use a grab start for breaststroke. Way back when track starts first came around, the thinking was that you could go deeper on a grab start and it was better for breaststroke pull outs. As a breaststroker, I've never switched over from the grab start because of that thinking. Is that outdated now?

I do the grab start, but our pool will be getting the track starting blocks in the coming 4-6 weeks, once I can practice doing a track start I will most likely go over to it, when the blocks have the ledge on the back. I don't know my reaction time, but I have a picture of me at the start of a race where my feet and toes are extended as much as they can, and I am about 12-15" off the block and the others in the picture still have contact. that using a grab start.