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?
Looking at the Olympics most swimmers seemed to be going relatively straight out instead of slightly up to maximize flight time.What is the rationale for this.Slightly up is going to give you more flight time,have you enter the water faster,and make it easier to enter the water through one hole.What am I missing,or are most of the world's coaches wrong (or am I just fooled by the NBC camera work.)
A coach friend told me that with any upward angle there is a bit of a stall at the apex of the dive that is slower than going straight in. Make sure thighs never get over horizontal off the blocks. This is pretty much what is being taught at the highest competitive levels. I still have trouble getting a clean entry where I feel a quiet acceleration no matter what I try. I hate my usual noisy turbulent entries.
Looking at the Olympics most swimmers seemed to be going relatively straight out instead of slightly up to maximize flight time.What is the rationale for this.Slightly up is going to give you more flight time,have you enter the water faster,and make it easier to enter the water through one hole.What am I missing,or are most of the world's coaches wrong (or am I just fooled by the NBC camera work.)
A coach friend told me that with any upward angle there is a bit of a stall at the apex of the dive that is slower than going straight in. Make sure thighs never get over horizontal off the blocks. This is pretty much what is being taught at the highest competitive levels. I still have trouble getting a clean entry where I feel a quiet acceleration no matter what I try. I hate my usual noisy turbulent entries.
