Since getting back into masters swimming after a long (12 year) hiatus I've been playing around with the track start which came into vogue after my first "retirement". I'm still torn between the two and have been trying to find what fits me best.
The last month or so I've had a chance to watch ASU, UA, Auburn and UNLV swim meets and what's interesting is that I only saw one or two swimmers using a traditonal "grab" start. I know a few of these coaches and they all said the same thing, it's hands down the fastest start of the two.
Recently a new group has introduced a program caller "PowerStarts" (www.quickgetaway.com) which advocates the complete opposite philosophy. By the way, I'm NOT endorsing this TI type program but do find it interesting!!!
I've had a chance to discuss some of this with Wayne and have basically come to the conclusion that a traditonal grab (power start style) start still works best for my body type (and lack of fast twitch ability!). I do however need to commit the workout time to run a series of 15 M sprints and see what really works.
Anyone else have any thoughts on this?
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Former Member
There are benefits to both starts. A lot does depend on body type and balance. If you have poor balance and are concerned with "rolling" while waiting for the gun, the track start is very stable. I too, think it lends itself to a flatter dive, but this can be tweaked with some practice. I started using the track start in college (1985) for sprinting (50-100s). The key with it was/is when you come down for the start, you shouldn't grab the block and coil your body backwards. If you do you have that much further to go to catch up to swimmers lined up directly over the end of the blocks. The theory was (with video support), if you line your head up with the front of the block (being able to view the wall below you) and use your hands and arms to create momentum at the gun or beep, you can get a quick start. Whether or not it is indeed faster than a traditional start, I can't say. Of course all of this is dependent on whether or not you have fast or slow twitch fibers, etc. I always taught my high school swimmers that by using the track start they were more stable up there and could wait out any delay in the start. Swimmers at that age (especially JV) who swim only seasonally, aren't really comfortable up there, and I tried to take that "anxiety" out of it for them. I use it exclusively, however and can look a bit silly using it on 500s and above! Habit, I guess. Paul, you are fast enough where it may not matter what you use; we are usually left behind by the 50 or so with you! Now relay takeoffs are another thread entirely...
There are benefits to both starts. A lot does depend on body type and balance. If you have poor balance and are concerned with "rolling" while waiting for the gun, the track start is very stable. I too, think it lends itself to a flatter dive, but this can be tweaked with some practice. I started using the track start in college (1985) for sprinting (50-100s). The key with it was/is when you come down for the start, you shouldn't grab the block and coil your body backwards. If you do you have that much further to go to catch up to swimmers lined up directly over the end of the blocks. The theory was (with video support), if you line your head up with the front of the block (being able to view the wall below you) and use your hands and arms to create momentum at the gun or beep, you can get a quick start. Whether or not it is indeed faster than a traditional start, I can't say. Of course all of this is dependent on whether or not you have fast or slow twitch fibers, etc. I always taught my high school swimmers that by using the track start they were more stable up there and could wait out any delay in the start. Swimmers at that age (especially JV) who swim only seasonally, aren't really comfortable up there, and I tried to take that "anxiety" out of it for them. I use it exclusively, however and can look a bit silly using it on 500s and above! Habit, I guess. Paul, you are fast enough where it may not matter what you use; we are usually left behind by the 50 or so with you! Now relay takeoffs are another thread entirely...
