track starts

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. Watch some of the best sprinters in the world, some of them throw the calf on their back foot up and forward while their front foot is still attached to the block. Meet results show RT / Reaction Time, but RT is really "block time" It's the amount of time swimmers spent on the block after the gun goes off. True RT is the amount of time that passes between the beep and the swimmers first starting movement on the block. Looks like RTs are faster in meets that have wedge blocks. Wedges for the back foot. At the UT Swim Center with blocks with out wedges the best sprinters RT under 0.70. Vlad Morozof has RTed under 0.60 in several races.

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. That is another good point. Some blocks are too small length-wise, so a grab start is more effective. At the clinic, they mentioned that the first reaction with the grab start is to lift the toes up, starting the fall to the water. With track starts, my left leg is forward (I kick a ball with my right foot)

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? I have a picture of me vs. knelson that shows this difference. I may beat him off the start now, but his age group endurance program should (but won't :D ) kick my butt in the pool!!

The track start offers faster reaction time and generally a flatter entry.The grab start offers greater thrust.What is better for you is a matter of trial and error. A few of the Australians still use the grab start.Other advantages of the track start are more stability on the block and it's easier if you have poor back flexibility. 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.

"track starts" Any instructions on doing a track start would be appreciated. How and why do you do this? Track starts + tend to be faster in terms of reaction time or block time, + are more stable from a balance point of view, + require less flexibility, & + can enable the swimmer to dive with more force and speed these may help: Tip 10 Start with Starts Tip 136 The Magic Surge Dive Tip 172 Track Starts Tip 177a Crocker's Track Start Tips Tip 196 Backstroke Starts Tip 221 Backstroke Starts Foot Position Tip 322 More about Starts The best ways to learn how to do track starts are: + watch great starters and copy them, + get one on one instruction from a great starter & instructor, + have someone video you doing starts, (if you want comments from us, put your videos on youtube & provide a link )

I still use the "old" start position with 2 feet at the front edge. My reason is the 3 hip surgeries in 11 years. I feel more stable in this position. "Old guys rule"!

I explain to runners that their stronger "load" leg is forward in a track block start. Their "fast" leg is behind. Usually right handed people have a stronger left leg - it's their "plant" leg in soccer. The right leg is the more agile, faster moving leg. Hence at the gun, the push in a track race would come from the left leg, and the right leg is faster to move. this makes sense and despite my previous post is probably what is happening regardless of what it feels like. Also the back leg speed may help that forward momentum going before the strong leg engages amd pushes so the best power goes forward not straight up from the squat position. Interesting posts though.

I still use the "old" start position with 2 feet at the front edge. My reason is the 3 hip surgeries in 11 years. I feel more stable in this position. "Old guys rule"! Where is the "like" button for this post?

That Guy says: "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." (sorry, don't know how to quote on this forum) Yes, this makes sense to me. I run/coach track...I explain to runners that their stronger "load" leg is forward in a track block start. Their "fast" leg is behind. Usually right handed people have a stronger left leg - it's their "plant" leg in soccer. The right leg is the more agile, faster moving leg. Hence at the gun, the push in a track race would come from the left leg, and the right leg is faster to move. Mind you, arms - being much less in mass - move faster than legs. So in track and field, the mental training off the block is to think of fast arms...the legs will follow. A typical right handed person, wih their left leg forward in the "load" position, will focus on driving the right arm back and the left arm forward on the gun as the right leg drives forward into the first step. What are arms supposed to do in a swimming race? I have never seen the new, back raised blocks pictured in the above posts. They remind me of track and field starting blocks....pretty soon, I predict, the angle on the back part of the block will be adjustable, as they are in track and field... but I digress. My first meet in over a decade is next month...I have no idea what type of blocks there will be, but I anticiate the old school type. Wish me luck! Thanks for all your imput. forums.usms.org/.../smiley_canada_flag_ani.gif

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 still use the grab start because I have found it faster for me.It is not the fastest off the block for me,but it is the fastest to 15 M. I think butterflyers with a good SDK should experiment with the grab start.It is easier to leave the block with a slightly up angle with the grab start. Many coaches teaching the track start recommend launching from the blocks straight out(horizontal.)This leads to good reaction times but is not good physics.You are never going faster than in the air so the further you go in the air the faster you will be.For maximum distance you want to be vectoring up and out,not straight out.