What is the average stroke count for a 25 yd free swim? Assuming no block start? I'm trying to count mine and was wondering where I should be aiming for.
True, but that isn't really working to improve the efficiency of your stroke, more like avoiding doing it. Now I fully understand that a lot of swimmers are having a great deal of success doing just that, (i.e. giving up distance swimming for distance SDK) and improving streamline has got to be one of the most fundamental things all swimmers should be working on, but while it is in-principle possible to get the stroke count down to 0 by improving streamline and SDK, that won't make your stroke any better! Oh heck I guess I am old fashioned, just SDK to victory and to heck with swimming on top of the water. :bolt:
I didn't say I wasn't going to work on the efficiency of my stroke; I am always doing that. But, with coaching (and now training side-by-side with my coach), I have improved my stroke count quite a bit from where we started three years ago. At this point, I don't know how much lower I can get my stroke count with further efficiency improvements alone. And, physical issues/ limitations come in to play when it comes to dryland for strengthening. (Rather than experimenting like I have done in the past- and, paying for it- I have an appointment with a PT who is a Masters swimmer, for a evaluation and dryland recommendations specific to my limitations.)
So, knowing I have an obviously bad streamline (some of it due to those physical limitations) and SDK (I have no excuse; it's just BAD), I feel this is where I can gain the most improvement. :agree: Oh yeah; my backstroke start can use a lot of improvement, as well:
http://youtu.be/8ocbQC7DH_I I'm the one in the white cap and black suit. This was a personal best of :40.45 (I'm not a backstroker), but my start and turn need a lot of improvement. (And, no, flipturns are not possible due to an inner ear disorder that causes disorientation and seasickness. Since I can't practice them, I don't want to take a chance that I can nail it in a race.)
True, but that isn't really working to improve the efficiency of your stroke, more like avoiding doing it. Now I fully understand that a lot of swimmers are having a great deal of success doing just that, (i.e. giving up distance swimming for distance SDK) and improving streamline has got to be one of the most fundamental things all swimmers should be working on, but while it is in-principle possible to get the stroke count down to 0 by improving streamline and SDK, that won't make your stroke any better! Oh heck I guess I am old fashioned, just SDK to victory and to heck with swimming on top of the water. :bolt:
I didn't say I wasn't going to work on the efficiency of my stroke; I am always doing that. But, with coaching (and now training side-by-side with my coach), I have improved my stroke count quite a bit from where we started three years ago. At this point, I don't know how much lower I can get my stroke count with further efficiency improvements alone. And, physical issues/ limitations come in to play when it comes to dryland for strengthening. (Rather than experimenting like I have done in the past- and, paying for it- I have an appointment with a PT who is a Masters swimmer, for a evaluation and dryland recommendations specific to my limitations.)
So, knowing I have an obviously bad streamline (some of it due to those physical limitations) and SDK (I have no excuse; it's just BAD), I feel this is where I can gain the most improvement. :agree: Oh yeah; my backstroke start can use a lot of improvement, as well:
http://youtu.be/8ocbQC7DH_I I'm the one in the white cap and black suit. This was a personal best of :40.45 (I'm not a backstroker), but my start and turn need a lot of improvement. (And, no, flipturns are not possible due to an inner ear disorder that causes disorientation and seasickness. Since I can't practice them, I don't want to take a chance that I can nail it in a race.)
