We have threads about each stroke and about kicking, so i thought it would be good to have one about starts and turns to deal with questions and tips.
When I transitioned from the grab start to the track start i had a great deal of trouble with repeatability. I was either too deep or too shallow. Through trial and error i discovered that if I focused on getting a good push from my rear leg my entry was much more consistent, YMMV.
One thing to ensure you practice is being able to work off either touching arm. I don’t always swim IM, but when I do it is the 100, and I always try the reverse bk2br flip. It is faster for me.
Absolutely right about practicing with either arm because for racing it is different than at practice. I also try to do a few during warmups, hopefully in the lane of my heat because the wall won’t be in view until the touch. The flags differ between SCM and SCY too.
What can I do to improve my start? My coach tells me I don't jump.
1) If you’re not already using strength training, this should help.
2) Potentially better is plyometric training, e.g. vertical drops: Stand on a platform about a foot off the floor and hop off, but instead of just landing, you bounce up with a vertical leap. Do with caution and start off easy, at our age it can be a way to get injured, and that would make your start even worse.
3) Flexibility, yoga, and balancing exercises
4) Practice starts under video. Use high frame rate.
All this stuff can help, they are also a good addition to swimming by improving balance and bone/joint health (if done in moderation and care)
One thing to ensure you practice is being able to work off either touching arm. I don’t always swim IM, but when I do it is the 100, and I always try the reverse bk2br flip. It is faster for me.
Absolutely right about practicing with either arm because for racing it is different than at practice. I also try to do a few during warmups, hopefully in the lane of my heat because the wall won’t be in view until the touch. The flags differ between SCM and SCY too.
What can I do to improve my start? My coach tells me I don't jump.
1) If you’re not already using strength training, this should help.
2) Potentially better is plyometric training, e.g. vertical drops: Stand on a platform about a foot off the floor and hop off, but instead of just landing, you bounce up with a vertical leap. Do with caution and start off easy, at our age it can be a way to get injured, and that would make your start even worse.
3) Flexibility, yoga, and balancing exercises
4) Practice starts under video. Use high frame rate.
All this stuff can help, they are also a good addition to swimming by improving balance and bone/joint health (if done in moderation and care)
