How do you improve swimming times for a shorter swimmer?
Former Member
After a few meets this year, I feel pretty demotivated for swimming. I am a 5"7 swimmer who has huge disadvantages against taller swimmers, I did heavy off-season training and consider myself a decent to moderately fast swimmer. I go around a 57.63 100 Butterfly SCY, 53.21 100 Free and feel like i'm running into a brick wall in the past few meets. I have natural disadvantages such as small hands and size 8.5 feet but a rather large armspan around 6 foot. I wonder what I can do to improve as a shorter swimmer, and since states is around the corner and tapering is about to start. My goal is a 52-53 100 Butterfly as that will probably bring me to all-state or a 53.27 national cut would be nice. If you can add some suggestions it would be nice.
Lots of good comments. As another aside, a friend of mine from high school swam a 100yd free in :49, he was about 5'7", with "small hands and feet." But he was crazy competitive and had a high, but effective turnover. He'd also go :22xx in the 50yd free. It can be done. Plus, you have the added benefit of honking taller folks off when you beat them, seemingly defying logic and physics :-)
Lots of good comments. As another aside, a friend of mine from high school swam a 100yd free in :49, he was about 5'7", with "small hands and feet." But he was crazy competitive and had a high, but effective turnover. He'd also go :22xx in the 50yd free. It can be done. Plus, you have the added benefit of honking taller folks off when you beat them, seemingly defying logic and physics :-)
