Starts. Most of us don't get to practice them enough. More people have questions than answers,but I wanted to start a thread for both.
I did the grab start for many years and was convinced that since it gave me 2 legs with even thrust that it should be better for me. A Forumite explained the physics of why the track start would be faster,so I have gone to the track start. It had the surprising advantage of being much easier on my back. With the track start I had more trouble consistently getting a clean entry.I saw the Olympians were getting into the starting position(albeit relaxed) well before "take your marks."I tried it and found it was easier to get my foot position and balance exactly like I wanted it,making for more consistent entries.
As soon as I launch from the blocks, I try to lock into a tight streamline to enter the water.
Here's a sequence of pictures that my coach took from a meet back in June, that's interesting for the variety of start techniques on display (I'm in lane #4 in the blue suit).
In particular, notice how the guy in lane #3 and I got off the blocks together, but his arms came apart in the water right away, creating a lot of drag. I did a pretty good job of staying in a tight streamline and managed to glide out to about a 1/2 body length lead by the last picture. (No, I didn't win the race, thanks for asking... )
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Thanks for posting Mark and for starting the thread. Like the guy in lane 3 my biggest problem now is not keeping my streamline - my arms get pushed back and apart, and I really loose momentum. My shoulders aren't loose enough anymore for my arms to pinch my head behind my ears and stay streamlined. Guess some sort of yoga stretching might help. My reflex isn't a streamlined start and I don't think that helps when there is only a split second to get it together - too many years of old school starts skimming across the surface won't go away.
As soon as I launch from the blocks, I try to lock into a tight streamline to enter the water.
Here's a sequence of pictures that my coach took from a meet back in June, that's interesting for the variety of start techniques on display (I'm in lane #4 in the blue suit).
In particular, notice how the guy in lane #3 and I got off the blocks together, but his arms came apart in the water right away, creating a lot of drag. I did a pretty good job of staying in a tight streamline and managed to glide out to about a 1/2 body length lead by the last picture. (No, I didn't win the race, thanks for asking... )
107671076810769107701077110772
Thanks for posting Mark and for starting the thread. Like the guy in lane 3 my biggest problem now is not keeping my streamline - my arms get pushed back and apart, and I really loose momentum. My shoulders aren't loose enough anymore for my arms to pinch my head behind my ears and stay streamlined. Guess some sort of yoga stretching might help. My reflex isn't a streamlined start and I don't think that helps when there is only a split second to get it together - too many years of old school starts skimming across the surface won't go away.
