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?
Either I am missing something or too many coaches don't know physics. Personally I rather have coaches that know more about swimming than physics. But, at least for me the physics of the flatter start make sense.
The optimum angle for maximum distance for a projectile with a fixed velocity is about 32 degrees from horizontal. Prior to the introduction of the fin on the block, the velocity of the swimmer off the block was maximized at an angle much greater than 32 degrees. So depending on the angle and surface of the blocks and the swimmer they needed to launch at a greater angle to optimize velocity and distance. The fin allows the swimmer to lower the angle and keep the velocity.
For example, using an old school block with a 10 degree slant, the swimmer would achieve maximum velocity by launching perpendicular from the block. This 80 degree leap while maximizing velocity and time aloft severely limits distance traveled.
It looks like the Olympic swimmers are launching at greater than 32 degrees, but less than they used to before the fin.
Because the human body is not a solid projectile, the actual physics of how all the moving parts fit together is way beyond me, which is why I trust the trial and error method of what gets the swimmer to the 10 meter mark the fastest seems like a good solution.
Either I am missing something or too many coaches don't know physics. Personally I rather have coaches that know more about swimming than physics. But, at least for me the physics of the flatter start make sense.
The optimum angle for maximum distance for a projectile with a fixed velocity is about 32 degrees from horizontal. Prior to the introduction of the fin on the block, the velocity of the swimmer off the block was maximized at an angle much greater than 32 degrees. So depending on the angle and surface of the blocks and the swimmer they needed to launch at a greater angle to optimize velocity and distance. The fin allows the swimmer to lower the angle and keep the velocity.
For example, using an old school block with a 10 degree slant, the swimmer would achieve maximum velocity by launching perpendicular from the block. This 80 degree leap while maximizing velocity and time aloft severely limits distance traveled.
It looks like the Olympic swimmers are launching at greater than 32 degrees, but less than they used to before the fin.
Because the human body is not a solid projectile, the actual physics of how all the moving parts fit together is way beyond me, which is why I trust the trial and error method of what gets the swimmer to the 10 meter mark the fastest seems like a good solution.
