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 prefer to do the track start especially if the block is a new type with the sloped back - that makes this kind of block better for the track start. But some pools still have old starting blocks which also have slippery surface. I almost got injury once when I tried to do a track start from such platform when my foot slipped off the block during push. Since that time I do only grab start if the pool has old blocks and I feel the surface is slippery.
I prefer to do the track start especially if the block is a new type with the sloped back - that makes this kind of block better for the track start. But some pools still have old starting blocks which also have slippery surface. I almost got injury once when I tried to do a track start from such platform when my foot slipped off the block during push. Since that time I do only grab start if the pool has old blocks and I feel the surface is slippery.
