As a transfer, back to swimming from the "semi" sport of golf, I still have a strong desire to read instructional information. Whether it be in a book, magazine, or an article there is always a finepoint to be gleaned to improve ones golf game. And the quantity of books on golf...well need I go on?
Fast forward to swimming. A couple of books with out-of-date stroke descriptions and graphics made of ill formed stick figures. What's going on? I can find a 60 frame sequence of Tiger's golf swing, from a couple of angles, but it appears that all world class swimmers are camera shy. Why? Money? Not wanting to share secrets? Camera shortage?
Little stroke snipits (video loops) on the internet are not enough. Where is the detail? If the experts of our sport spend hours in a tank figuring out their hydrodynamics surely someone has take a Polaroid or two!?! (and is willing to share)
From what I have been able to find, nobody has published a quality Swimming book since Doc Counsilman. Does anyone have any reading suggestions? With real detail?
Emmett didn't mention his own book, Fitness Swimming. It leans less on the theory than some others but does give a step be step path to follow to swimming well.
On the other hand, realize that the cutting edge of swimming isn't in books but rather in journals or in coaches minds. The reasons that doesn't make it to the bookstore I can't say.
But we also need to realize that the technique is emerging and the methods for measurement are also.
You mention Counsilman. Well, as far as I know he was big in pushing the lift view of propulsion. You may say that his was the last good book that was written on the other hand there are many studies coming out showing that the whole lift idea is not correct. Not only is lift not the propulsor that we thought but also the water doesn't flow over our hands in the way we thought it did.
I suspect that in the near future we will make more strides in flow visualization and refine our ideas more.
What I'm driving at is that the very fine points which you seem to want to learn all about are constantly in flux.
The best place to find the in depth things you are looking for may well be biomechanics of sport journals.
On the other hand, for an instruction book on good swim form for my money you can't beat Swimming Made Easy with anything else out there.
Good Luck in your search.
Emmett didn't mention his own book, Fitness Swimming. It leans less on the theory than some others but does give a step be step path to follow to swimming well.
On the other hand, realize that the cutting edge of swimming isn't in books but rather in journals or in coaches minds. The reasons that doesn't make it to the bookstore I can't say.
But we also need to realize that the technique is emerging and the methods for measurement are also.
You mention Counsilman. Well, as far as I know he was big in pushing the lift view of propulsion. You may say that his was the last good book that was written on the other hand there are many studies coming out showing that the whole lift idea is not correct. Not only is lift not the propulsor that we thought but also the water doesn't flow over our hands in the way we thought it did.
I suspect that in the near future we will make more strides in flow visualization and refine our ideas more.
What I'm driving at is that the very fine points which you seem to want to learn all about are constantly in flux.
The best place to find the in depth things you are looking for may well be biomechanics of sport journals.
On the other hand, for an instruction book on good swim form for my money you can't beat Swimming Made Easy with anything else out there.
Good Luck in your search.
