Help me break through a wall please!

RE: Help me break through a wall please!

Former Member — Fri, 30 Nov 2012 11:58:48 GMT

Alright watched your videos a few times, your start doesn't look like it got power and your underwater turns aren't too good either. Your stroke looks nice but you breath too much. Every breath is probably about .05 seconds. Like they said, your heads is a bit too high up thus it keeps your feet low which also cuts down some time. Great swims though.

RE: Help me break through a wall please!

Former Member — Thu, 29 Nov 2012 06:40:57 GMT

I've watched the 'what's the limit' series but unfortunately the footage is too low quality to gain any real insight. That last one that you posted Steve, that's a gem. I'll take a look at that again when I get home from work.

RE: Help me break through a wall please!

Former Member — Wed, 28 Nov 2012 17:40:27 GMT

Andy, here's more on Popov: Popov - What's the Limit? (Part 1) - YouTube The video's broken into five parts. Scroll down after the first part for part two. Parts three through five pop up on youtube's right sidebar.

RE: Help me break through a wall please!

__steve__ — Wed, 28 Nov 2012 06:51:32 GMT

Preaching to the chior with those old popov flicks. Have you seen this one andy? 3. ÐŸÑ€Ð¸Ð»Ð¾Ð¶ÐµÐ½Ð¸Ðµ Freestyle .mp4 - YouTube

RE: Help me break through a wall please!

Former Member — Tue, 27 Nov 2012 13:54:02 GMT

There's a fair amount of Popov footage. Here's some slowmo: Alexander Popov swimming technique - YouTube

RE: Help me break through a wall please!

Former Member — Mon, 26 Nov 2012 12:49:31 GMT

Are there 50 M sprinters who don't use shoulder driven strokes? I know some of the 100M guys like Magmessun use a hybrid of shoulder and hip driven. I wish there was some good high quality footage of Alexandre Popov's stroke. I always considered him to be my hero, and I'd love to emulate his long, loping stroke! Last Friday was my final meet for the year. I swam a 24.55 long course meters, which isn't bad considering my PB for LC meters is 24.40 which I set when I was 17 years old, training 50km a week, Next year I'll keep working on my stroke and train a little harder and see if I can go faster. At this stage, I'm finding swimming really good fun. I've made a lot of friends through masters swimming here in Japan, and I think that having fun is the most important part.

RE: Help me break through a wall please!

taruky — Sun, 25 Nov 2012 01:23:20 GMT

Are there 50 M sprinters who don't use shoulder driven strokes? I know some of the 100M guys like Magmessun use a hybrid of shoulder and hip driven.

RE: Help me break through a wall please!

Former Member — Wed, 21 Nov 2012 08:38:10 GMT

Do you pull with a straight arm, or with elbow high? High elbow. Swimming at Joy - YouTube Very short vid of my underwater technique. (Got a new GoPro and wanted to test it's waterproofing)

RE: Help me break through a wall please!

Former Member — Wed, 21 Nov 2012 07:50:18 GMT

High elbow. Swimming at Joy - YouTube Very short vid of my underwater technique. (Got a new GoPro and wanted to test it's waterproofing) Have you tried sprinting with a straight arm? From what I see there is a lot of strength in your arms and in the race you are more shoulder driven then rotating. With a straight arm you might even get a bit more lift. I would give it a try and see what works best for you. Look at this video on minute 3.09

RE: Help me break through a wall please!

Former Member — Tue, 20 Nov 2012 16:32:03 GMT

Andy, great job. First time out after getting some advice from the peanut gallery, giving it some thought, then getting hunted by a young lion on the back end, you get a new PB. Presto magico. Only the beginning, would be my guess. Why Not returns to a big point, asking about EVF. Gary Hall Sr. makes this a very interesting topic with his views on the subject. Here's a nugget: www.theraceclub.net/.../

RE: Help me break through a wall please!

Former Member — Tue, 20 Nov 2012 09:01:50 GMT

Do you pull with a straight arm, or with elbow high?

RE: Help me break through a wall please!

ande — Tue, 20 Nov 2012 02:44:07 GMT

Hi Andy, I swim these days because it's a fun reminder of my roots, I don't have aspirations of competing with the big fish. It's fun to find out how fast you can swim. Unfortunately the swimming infrastructure here in Hokkaido is sorely lacking. Today was my 7th meet this season and I haven't found blocks that I could tracks start from. keep looking At the moment, I only do 25s and 50s and so all my racing is anaerobic. My work schedule precludes me from training with guys my speed, so I'm stuck with the 40 somethings and 50 somethings in the masters class! That's ok, swim easy with perfect form then sprint during moments when you have open water, like as your lane is coming in on a set or about to turn Are you lifting weights? Yes sir, twice a week Can you do 3? Strength and speed go hand in hand. Get stronger swim faster 100's I've only tried one 100 this year, and the back end was a disaster! I might give them a go next year Splitting is the secret, use easy speed to cruise the 1st 25 or 50 kick at a low intensity then pick it up on the 2nd 50, split your races close you went 23.9 go out in 25.9 then try to go 26.4 on your 2nd 50 I might invest next season. My teammates do laugh at me for my 1990's style costume. INVEST IN A JAMMER SDKs This is going to be my biggest focus, and I thank you for pointing it out to me. GREAT Cavic went out in 22.6 That's outrageously fast! IT IS, THE WR IN BODY SUITS IS 22.4 LCM, A FEW HAVE BEEN UNDER 23 IN JAMMERS I got back into the 23's! Only just! P.B. by 4 hundredths! CONGRATS NOW GO FASTER SWIM MORE, 3 30 MIN PRACTICES A WEEK IS BETTER THAN 1 HR LONG ONE I didn't expect this kinds of in depth advice when I posted on here. I really appreciate you taking the time to write helpful advice. Thank you! YOU'RE WELCOME, BECOME FASCINATED WITH HOW FAST YOU CAN SWIM ON LIMITED TRAINING TIME.

RE: Help me break through a wall please!

Former Member — Sun, 18 Nov 2012 09:15:51 GMT

"How bad do you want to be good?" I swim these days because it's a fun reminder of my roots, I don't have aspirations of competing with the big fish. you race short course meters It's well worth your time to travel to a meet in a better pool with better blocks Unfortunately the swimming infrastructure here in Hokkaido is sorely lacking. Today was my 7th meet this season and I haven't found blocks that I could tracks start from. you swim once a week 1.5 km I think you could swim faster if you swam 3 or 4 or 5 times a week At the moment, I only do 25s and 50s and so all my racing is anaerobic. My work schedule precludes me from training with guys my speed, so I'm stuck with the 40 somethings and 50 somethings in the masters class! Are you lifting weights? Yes sir, twice a week Strength and speed go hand in hand. Get stronger swim faster you can probably get away with 100's too for speed and strength training you don't need to swim much or far you just need to warm up and do a few very fast 15 & 25 swims & kicks with plenty of rest Plus maybe a very fast 50 or two once a week I've only tried one 100 this year, and the back end was a disaster! I might give them a go next year What's a jammer? a jammer is a swim suit that covers more of your leg the rule for men is below the belly button and above the top of your knee The Swim Faster faster Index has a link called FINA Approved Tech Suits where you can see examples. I might invest next season. My teammates do laugh at me for my 1990's style costume. work on your SDK and test it, only use it if it's faster you want to do small fast SDKs This is going to be my biggest focus, and I thank you for pointing it out to me. Probably the best race footage of AWESOME SDKing is: Michael Phelps Mens 100m Butterfly Rome, 2009 WR FINA Emotional Phelps supports Speedo - YouTube Cavic went out in 22.6 That's outrageously fast! ultimately what you want to do is improve your SDKs, test your SDKs & SFK (streamlined flutter kick), to figure out what gets you to 15 meters the fastest, if it's SDKs, come up with a kick count for your FL & FR races IE I SDK faster on my back than my belly, so I do more SDKs in my 50 bk than my 50 fly, also my 25 free than than my 25 SDK so I do less SDKs on my 50 FR than my 50 FL My race kick counts are: 50 bk 11 off the start & 12 off the turn 50 FL 8 - 10 off the start & turn 50 FR 6 off the start & turn don't "try and keep your head down" KEEP your head down Goal achieved. also check out study and practice "Dive Work with World Record Holder Roland Schoeman" Hope you go 23, obliterate 24 I got back into the 23's! Only just! P.B. by 4 hundredths! Ande Ask the person filming you to: 1) Film you from an unobstructed elevated point 2) use a tripod 3) zoom in enough to get good race details but not too much so that they lose you on the turn or don't show the swimmers next to you unless they're really far behind & 4) practice following you while filming through a few fast turns in warm up so they keep you in the frame during your 50 races. Filming is hit and miss unfortunately. Everyone has their hands full with their own races, so I get it when I can. I didn't expect this kinds of in depth advice when I posted on here. I really appreciate you taking the time to write helpful advice. Thank you!

RE: Help me break through a wall please!

Former Member — Sun, 18 Nov 2012 09:00:51 GMT

Hi guys. I woke up at 3.45 am this morning and drove 3 hours to Obihiro. It was a small meet held by my fitness club. I was told it was a mixed meet with kids and masters alike joining in the fun. When I got there, it was nearly all kids! I felt kind of embarrassed to swim with 15 and 16 year olds, but it turns out one of them gave me a good run for my money! I dived in and got a reasonably good streamline, but after 3 or 4 SDK's I felt like I was slowing down so I surfaced. I thought about lengthening the back of my neck and opening up a big kick. At the 25 meter mark, I turned and saw that the 16 year old to my right had come with me, which really got me motivated. I worked hard for about 6 SDK's before surfacing and upping my stroke rate while still concentrating on looking downwards. In the end I got a nice finish on the wall and got a personal best of 23.92 seconds! I feel like I might be able to find some more time next time because I don't think I got a very good start, and my front half may not have been as explosive as it could have been because I was focusing on my head position. The young chap finished in 24.8 which I thought was pretty quick for 16! Thanks for all your helpful advice! If I can find the video, I'll post it up!

RE: Help me break through a wall please!

Bill Sive — Sun, 18 Nov 2012 06:58:04 GMT

Are you using hand paddles, fins, and pull buoys during your workouts? If no, I encourage you to incorporate them into your workout.

RE: Help me break through a wall please!

ande — Fri, 16 Nov 2012 11:40:09 GMT

These are short course 25 meter races. The pools here in Hokkaido are all quite old, and I haven't come across any blocks where I could feasibly do a track start. All the blocks are tiny, and some are not even angled forward. I used to swim 50km a week in school, but quit when I was 20. Now I'm 28 and have just gotten back into swimming. Work keeps me pretty busy, so I only swim once a week. Just about 1.5 km. It's just for fun. I don't race 100's or 200's because I just don't have the fitness. 25's and 50's I can get away with anaerobic, so I don't really need to be too fit! What's a jammer? Is that a fast suit? I'm from an era before those! I like my Alexandre Popov style costume! This weekend I'm swimming a 25 and 50 free, and a 50 fly down in Obihiro. It's SC. I'll really work my SDK and try and keep my head down. Fingers crossed I can get a 23. it all boils down to this question: "How bad do you want to be good?" you race short course meters It's well worth your time to travel to a meet in a better pool with better blocks you swim once a week 1.5 km I think you could swim faster if you swam 3 or 4 or 5 times a week Are you lifting weights? Strength and speed go hand in hand. Get stronger swim faster you can probably get away with 100's too for speed and strength training you don't need to swim much or far you just need to warm up and do a few very fast 15 & 25 swims & kicks with plenty of rest Plus maybe a very fast 50 or two once a week What's a jammer? a jammer is a swim suit that covers more of your leg the rule for men is below the belly button and above the top of your knee The Swim Faster faster Index has a link called FINA Approved Tech Suits where you can see examples. work on your SDK and test it, only use it if it's faster you want to do small fast SDKs Probably the best race footage of AWESOME SDKing is: Michael Phelps Mens 100m Butterfly Rome, 2009 WR FINA Emotional Phelps supports Speedo - YouTube Cavic went out in 22.6 ultimately what you want to do is improve your SDKs, test your SDKs & SFK (streamlined flutter kick), to figure out what gets you to 15 meters the fastest, if it's SDKs, come up with a kick count for your FL & FR races IE I SDK faster on my back than my belly, so I do more SDKs in my 50 bk than my 50 fly, also my 25 free than than my 25 SDK so I do less SDKs on my 50 FR than my 50 FL My race kick counts are: 50 bk 11 off the start & 12 off the turn 50 FL 8 - 10 off the start & turn 50 FR 6 off the start & turn don't "try and keep your head down" KEEP your head down also check out study and practice "Dive Work with World Record Holder Roland Schoeman" Hope you go 23, obliterate 24 Ande Ask the person filming you to: 1) Film you from an unobstructed elevated point 2) use a tripod 3) zoom in enough to get good race details but not too much so that they lose you on the turn or don't show the swimmers next to you unless they're really far behind & 4) practice following you while filming through a few fast turns in warm up so they keep you in the frame during your 50 races.

RE: Help me break through a wall please!

Former Member — Fri, 16 Nov 2012 06:35:55 GMT

RE: Help me break through a wall please!

Former Member — Tue, 13 Nov 2012 12:03:39 GMT

Wow thanks for the great replies! Woofus I'll definately put some of your advice to the test this weekend. I'm racing in Obihiro on Sunday, and then in Nopporo (long course) on Friday the 23rd. I live and work in Hokkaido, Japan so the competition I face is usually in the high 25' low 26 second bracket. While I'd love to shave a full second, 2 seconds would put me in the low 22's which probably isn't likely given I only swim once a week! I'll try and get some video of this Sunday's racing. Going to work my underwater and keep my head down. Once again, thank you so much!

RE: Help me break through a wall please!

knelson — Tue, 13 Nov 2012 09:30:36 GMT

While I'd love to shave a full second, 2 seconds would put me in the low 22's which probably isn't likely given I only swim once a week! OK, so here's more advice for you: swim more!

RE: Help me break through a wall please!

ande — Tue, 13 Nov 2012 04:14:01 GMT

Hi Andy You look young strong and fast. 24.2 & 23.9 are pretty good, is that short course meters or long course. I watched your youtubes on my phone and didn't see much technique type stuff. Other than, 1) learn & develop an awesome track start 2) wear a jammer If you want to get faster, continue with speed work and strength training. How often do you train? What's your current routine? Hows your kick? flutter kick with a board and SDK Swim Faster Faster Has plenty of ideas to help you get faster do the sets in HELP! My ___ is Horrible Who knows how fast you can get but what ever improvement you have will happen by doing the little things right.

RE: Help me break through a wall please!

Former Member — Thu, 08 Nov 2012 16:20:08 GMT

Andy, I agree with Kirk: nothing obviously wrong with your crawl. Some thoughts anyway... • Work on your reaction time and spring off the blocks, and see if you can find a larger (preferably fin) block to hone a level track start (out, not up). • Wear a high-quality tight jammer. • Find competition who can beat you. Nothing like going head-to-head – and a loss or two – to push you further. • Although plenty of great sprinters push water with a high head position, see if you can relax and lengthen the back of your neck to cause the water to flow more smoothly over the top of your head. This would also raise your rear end and cause you more benefit from a strong kick. • You have a good shoulder-driven sprint style, but you appear to use 10-11 stroke cycles per 25M, which is almost certainly higher than ideal for you. As you pointed out, your right arm truncates its entry. Your left arm comes around the bend a bit, causing a sideslap, creating front-end turbulence and also sending you slightly off-course. Try to starve your stroke count in practice, while maintaining your desired pace. Even in a shoulder-driven style, there should be a smoothly-piercing, side-stretching reach and high-elbow scoop. Learning to hold pace in practice with fewer strokes will make you both stronger and more efficient. When you race, you may go back to something close to the stroke count you now have, but you'll be faster and more powerful. • As for SDKs, I would emphasize learning to break out in a way that conserves and immediately builds on all the speed you get off a wall or starting block. That may include a series of SDKs, or one or two snaps before your flutter kick begins, or you may arrow right into an earlier breakout. Whatever causes you to smoothly achieve your surface plane without loss of momentum. Bottom line: you're already posting solid times, with lots of opportunities to hone your act and shave a second or two...

RE: Help me break through a wall please!

Former Member — Thu, 08 Nov 2012 12:57:35 GMT

Thanks for the reply guys. Seeing that I swim mostly short course, I think you're right about working my underwater. I have a long course meet on the 23rd, so I'll see how I go there. My starts have always sucked.

RE: Help me break through a wall please!

__steve__ — Thu, 08 Nov 2012 11:31:56 GMT

you're already posting solid times, with lots of opportunities to hone your act and shave a second or two...That would put him in with the big fishes. Get a good coach if you haven't already

RE: Help me break through a wall please!

__steve__ — Thu, 08 Nov 2012 09:03:03 GMT

You can have someone time various starting styles at the 15M, use whichever method is fastest.

RE: Help me break through a wall please!

knelson — Wed, 07 Nov 2012 11:53:13 GMT

I have a feeling people aren't commenting because there isn't a lot to say--you've got a great sprint stroke! I do think your start could be better. Really think about pushing with the legs as your first movement. It seems to me like you're lifting your head first rather than pushing forward. You hold your head quite high when you are swimming, but it seems to work for you.