TI advice:
This question is aimed at on of you who have instructed people with TI methods and or stroke length vs stroke rate (such as Emmitt H, Matt S, Terry L, etc). I am one of the coaches of a master’s team along with one of these forums’ regular post contributors’, Jim Thornton. As a coach I am a proponent of TI type methods of balance, body position and stroke count. I try to teach all my swimmers to do these things and I believe that the results have been positive. I am pretty sure that every single one of our swimmers who have followed the coaching advice has improved his/her times. As a swimmer I also have been practicing body position and stroke count regularly for the past 2-½ seasons and have somewhat changed the way I swim. I am happy with the results, as my stroke looks very fluid and somewhat relaxed swimming through sets. I have not actually seen my stroke in practice but have had positive feedback from my co-coach and other swimmers.
I think that I should add a little of my swimming background before I get to my point. I was a decent college swimmer and was mainly a breastroker although I swam mostly freestyle in meets due to our roster limitations. My main events were 100yd Free (46.6 best), 50 free (22.0 best), 200 free (1:46.6 best). As a freestyler I had always had a tremendously fast turnover, even when swimming a 200. I would easily take 20+ strokes per 25yd when swimming these times. Needless to say, my turnover rate never went unnoticed.
Now this is where I need help or advice. I have been totally unable to translate TI type methods to fast swimming times. For 2+ seasons I tried to stay long and relaxed while sprinting to mixed success: I know that I felt like my stroke was much more relaxed and less tired (not as much lactic build-up) on my swims using TI methods and I did reasonably good times for my age (32) 50-51sec 100 free, 23.5 sec 50 free. Regardless, during the past 6 months or so I decided to go back to high turnover swimming and lo and behold my times went back down 48.8sec 100 free, 22.4 sec 50 free. I must admit that swimming high turnover is harder on my arms and shoulders however, I don’t really get as extremely tired (aerobic/heart rate) in practice as you might expect as I churn out 15-18 strokes per 25yd. I actually felt (and was) much more tired the 2 seasons I spent swimming low stroke count (11-14 strokes/25yd), balancing my body and using a smaller kicking motion. I am absolutely sure that my stroke looks terrible when I ‘spin’ as I do yet it seems effective.
I would prefer to swim long and relaxed for 2 reasons: 1) I love the way it feels and looks and 2) I need to keep some credibility as a coach since my team sees me not practicing what I preach. I just would like to have the best of both worlds: swim quickly and make it look good.
I don’t know if any of you have ever run into swimmers who just were unable to make the transition to faster times when swimming lower stroke count and if so what your advice would be.
Thanks for any help
Bill White
I've been struggling with the same questions regarding SR and attempting to find the right tempo. One thing I think is important to consider is that you can't really compare the 50/100 to 200 and above. I hold a pretty consistent count of 10 per lap 200-500, however I jump to about 14/15 in the 50.
I've mentioned before how I find in my own swimming the key factor in changing speed is my kick. Over the middle distance events I maintain a 2 beat kick, however I have an 8 beat kick in a 50. I also find that I ride higher in the water, have less "lope" in my stroke and less hip rotation in the 50.
When TI was first being discussed on this site a couple of years ago I expressed my concern that many swimmers would misinerpret the "slow swimming" and drill elements being promoted. I guarantee that when Popov is swimming "slow" he's actually digging VERY deep and producing a massive amount of power. There is a balance, you need proper technique executed at a very high level of effort!
I've been struggling with the same questions regarding SR and attempting to find the right tempo. One thing I think is important to consider is that you can't really compare the 50/100 to 200 and above. I hold a pretty consistent count of 10 per lap 200-500, however I jump to about 14/15 in the 50.
I've mentioned before how I find in my own swimming the key factor in changing speed is my kick. Over the middle distance events I maintain a 2 beat kick, however I have an 8 beat kick in a 50. I also find that I ride higher in the water, have less "lope" in my stroke and less hip rotation in the 50.
When TI was first being discussed on this site a couple of years ago I expressed my concern that many swimmers would misinerpret the "slow swimming" and drill elements being promoted. I guarantee that when Popov is swimming "slow" he's actually digging VERY deep and producing a massive amount of power. There is a balance, you need proper technique executed at a very high level of effort!
