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?
I am resurrecting this old thread because of questions I have about the track start.I have been an advocate of the grab start,but with the fin blocks at the Olympic Trials pool the track start is clearly faster.As I was practicing the track start there(thanks for having start lanes always open) I noticed the track start was easier on my back(I have had chronic back problems.)When I got back to my home pool I was working on the start and one of the coaches I know suggested that I get my back leg really straight to raise my hips and rear up for better leverage.Aside from being uncomfortable this did not seem to give me better leverage. From what I could see on videos this did not seem to be what the elites were doing,however I could not find any really good instructional videos on line for the track start.Any suggestions for tips on teaching an old dog new tricks?
Taking your mark with your back leg straight is madness. If your back leg is straight then you can't flex the big muscles in that leg to propel yourself off the block. That would put the burden on your front leg, resulting in a weaker start.
My advice is not to lean back when you take your mark. Don't lean forward either; just be neutrally balanced. You will get off the blocks faster, though some guys who lean back and do slingshot/trebuchet starts for greater power may catch up on the dive. I don't feel comfortable with those kind of starts; I do track starts with reaction times consistently under 0.70 so I just do that and don't worry too much about it.
I am resurrecting this old thread because of questions I have about the track start.I have been an advocate of the grab start,but with the fin blocks at the Olympic Trials pool the track start is clearly faster.As I was practicing the track start there(thanks for having start lanes always open) I noticed the track start was easier on my back(I have had chronic back problems.)When I got back to my home pool I was working on the start and one of the coaches I know suggested that I get my back leg really straight to raise my hips and rear up for better leverage.Aside from being uncomfortable this did not seem to give me better leverage. From what I could see on videos this did not seem to be what the elites were doing,however I could not find any really good instructional videos on line for the track start.Any suggestions for tips on teaching an old dog new tricks?
Taking your mark with your back leg straight is madness. If your back leg is straight then you can't flex the big muscles in that leg to propel yourself off the block. That would put the burden on your front leg, resulting in a weaker start.
My advice is not to lean back when you take your mark. Don't lean forward either; just be neutrally balanced. You will get off the blocks faster, though some guys who lean back and do slingshot/trebuchet starts for greater power may catch up on the dive. I don't feel comfortable with those kind of starts; I do track starts with reaction times consistently under 0.70 so I just do that and don't worry too much about it.
