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
Micheal,
Prince of darkness,
"I remember Kristin Quance. On the transition from the back to the *** in the 400 IM she was toward the back when her feet left the wall. I was not there, but talked to two deck officials who were there. They said it was a good call."
You can say it was a great call and a wake-up to all swimmers and coaches who get lazy. I say the video of her turn a dozen times, and a dozen times she did not turn past the vertical towards the breaststroke until her FEET crossed the "T" of the lane line. Her defense was it did not help her gain and advantage. It was obvious that this is how she practiced in workout and she just expected not to be called on it. By being lazy she lost a Gold medal.
I agree with Rain Man, when I coach age group or Masters I can often cut one second on a start clinic and 1/2 to one second on turns and underwater and breakouts. The rest of the world is teaching the grab start because they feel it is faster. All it takes is one or two photo's in Swimming World magazine showing a track start and all the kids emulate it. So many times Swim , Swim Technique and Swimming World have photos with bad technique. Just because the photo comes out good doesn't mean it should be printed in national magazines.
As to grab starts, you travel through the air at the speed of gravity at 9.4 meters per second. Most people who use the track start enter the water 6 to 10 feet from the starting block. If a grab start is used expect 10-11.5 feet. The goal of PowerStarts is to extend that distance to 12-14 feet. One interesting thing with the Powerstarts is they use the arms in much the same way as we did back in the 50's and 60's with the windup start. By exploding the hands quickly above the head the upper body gets lighter, allowing for a better use of the leg strength to push the now lighter lower body into a higher arc. Much easier to demonstrate than talk about. There is also much mention in PowerStarts to the "Magic Surge" which translates the speed of the start into momentum swimming.
What I want to find is the best way to do things, not the conventional way. This is one reason the Power Starts attracts me.
Coach Wayne McCauley
ASCA Level 5
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Former Member
Micheal,
Prince of darkness,
"I remember Kristin Quance. On the transition from the back to the *** in the 400 IM she was toward the back when her feet left the wall. I was not there, but talked to two deck officials who were there. They said it was a good call."
You can say it was a great call and a wake-up to all swimmers and coaches who get lazy. I say the video of her turn a dozen times, and a dozen times she did not turn past the vertical towards the breaststroke until her FEET crossed the "T" of the lane line. Her defense was it did not help her gain and advantage. It was obvious that this is how she practiced in workout and she just expected not to be called on it. By being lazy she lost a Gold medal.
I agree with Rain Man, when I coach age group or Masters I can often cut one second on a start clinic and 1/2 to one second on turns and underwater and breakouts. The rest of the world is teaching the grab start because they feel it is faster. All it takes is one or two photo's in Swimming World magazine showing a track start and all the kids emulate it. So many times Swim , Swim Technique and Swimming World have photos with bad technique. Just because the photo comes out good doesn't mean it should be printed in national magazines.
As to grab starts, you travel through the air at the speed of gravity at 9.4 meters per second. Most people who use the track start enter the water 6 to 10 feet from the starting block. If a grab start is used expect 10-11.5 feet. The goal of PowerStarts is to extend that distance to 12-14 feet. One interesting thing with the Powerstarts is they use the arms in much the same way as we did back in the 50's and 60's with the windup start. By exploding the hands quickly above the head the upper body gets lighter, allowing for a better use of the leg strength to push the now lighter lower body into a higher arc. Much easier to demonstrate than talk about. There is also much mention in PowerStarts to the "Magic Surge" which translates the speed of the start into momentum swimming.
What I want to find is the best way to do things, not the conventional way. This is one reason the Power Starts attracts me.
Coach Wayne McCauley
ASCA Level 5
