We work on stroke counts alot over the summer break, I was wondering what a reasonable stroke count is for each of the strokes. I know it depends alot on height, kick off the wall etc.
On an aerobic set (this is short course meters!) I can hold 9-11 on fly (with 6-8kicks off wall), 12-14 on back (with 6-8kicks off wall), 6-7 on breastsroke and 13-15 on freestyle.
Being a freestyler thats the one I concentrate on most. I can swim a 50 in about 34 secs holding 13-14 strokes on an aerobic set, yet when I race (26 for the 50m) I go 18-20 strokes. I know this is alot of difference to the aerobic set, so was wondering whether most swimmers have such a big difference?
I find it really hard (impossible!) to lower my stroke rate whilst going flat out to less than 18/19 strokes. I have chatted to my coach about it and he thinks that it is my optimal stroke rate but I still need to improve my stroke length. Any less strokes than this I end up feeling mechanical and loose my rythm!
Just wondered if anyone had any views on the above!!:D
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I used to have straight arm recovery (until about 14 months ago) so perhaps thats where the flick at the back of my stroke comes from.
What do you mean by "soft entry", I work on trying to relax my arms on the recovery because I have a real tendancy to "muscle" over the top of the water instead of actually recovering on the recovery. I can do it now on aerobic work but find it difficult on sprints. I am also trying to enter my hand through a small hole and making sure my elbow enters after it (what I mentioned about dropping my elbow on my left arm and entering elbow first). Again this is easier to do on slow work and takes a lot of concentration to do on sprint work, but if I lower the intensity from max by about 5% I can just do it and it feels like I could hold it for 200 race which would be good!!!
Yes, my coach is very technically orientated, most of the club only get 11 and a half hours pool time, so we have to make up for it by having good techique and efficient training!!!:cool:
I used to have straight arm recovery (until about 14 months ago) so perhaps thats where the flick at the back of my stroke comes from.
What do you mean by "soft entry", I work on trying to relax my arms on the recovery because I have a real tendancy to "muscle" over the top of the water instead of actually recovering on the recovery. I can do it now on aerobic work but find it difficult on sprints. I am also trying to enter my hand through a small hole and making sure my elbow enters after it (what I mentioned about dropping my elbow on my left arm and entering elbow first). Again this is easier to do on slow work and takes a lot of concentration to do on sprint work, but if I lower the intensity from max by about 5% I can just do it and it feels like I could hold it for 200 race which would be good!!!
Yes, my coach is very technically orientated, most of the club only get 11 and a half hours pool time, so we have to make up for it by having good techique and efficient training!!!:cool:
