Last night I was up late watching some recaps from 2012 summer games. I noticed in the 50m fr they talked about the "straight" arms of swimmer so and so... in a dead sprint like that do most all out sprinters just swing their arms straight instead of having any real elbow bend?
Yes, many do. You can get a faster turnover rate with a straight arm recovery. The downside of the straight arm is that for most people it generally less efficient and it puts a much greater strain on the shoulders.
When I switch to a more straight arm recovery, I have no shoulder stress.Is your straight arm recovery vertical wind-milling (like Manaudou), or more straight arm over the water surface?
Yes, many do. You can get a faster turnover rate with a straight arm recovery. The downside of the straight arm is that for most people it generally less efficient and it puts a much greater strain on the shoulders.
I find it to be less stressful on my shoulders. When I warm-up/down, I have tried to work on the high elbow recovery, but my shoulders start screaming. When I switch to a more straight arm recovery, I have no shoulder stress.
Ok thanks for the information. I"m looking for a way to get a little bit faster turnover. I'm almost faster using a dang pull buoy then kicking. annoying.
Is your straight arm recovery vertical wind-milling (like Manaudou), or more straight arm over the water surface?
Rob, mine is more straight over the water surface, with a high elbow catch under the water.
What the arm does over the water as it recovers (as long as it doesn't sway or move away from the midline) isn't important compared to what happens underwater. Splashing, slapping, throwing arms over the water to speed up the recovery is now a norm in the 50 and 100 (they going to be breaking 40 seconds in the 100 and 17 seconds in the 50???). It takes a lot of energy to throw your arms like that and I suspect we'll see 200 freestylers doing it soon, as times drop.
