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?
Micheal,
As to grab starts, you travel through the air at the speed of gravity at 9.4 meters per second.
Coach Wayne McCauley
ASCA Level 5
I know this post is over 10 years old, but I couldn't pass up the appalling physics error. Gravity has no speed. It is a force exerted on every body. It's value on the surface of the Earth is 9.81 m/s^2 * the mass of the body (F=m*a). The speed of someone off the block is a combination the force exerted by gravity (downward vertical component) and the force exerted by their legs (both upward and horizontal components). The swimmer's horizontal speed is unaffected by gravity.
Micheal,
As to grab starts, you travel through the air at the speed of gravity at 9.4 meters per second.
Coach Wayne McCauley
ASCA Level 5
I know this post is over 10 years old, but I couldn't pass up the appalling physics error. Gravity has no speed. It is a force exerted on every body. It's value on the surface of the Earth is 9.81 m/s^2 * the mass of the body (F=m*a). The speed of someone off the block is a combination the force exerted by gravity (downward vertical component) and the force exerted by their legs (both upward and horizontal components). The swimmer's horizontal speed is unaffected by gravity.
