I have recently become aware that i was slipping water during the underwater pull. This was happening because I have unusual flexibility in my hand.
I can lay my hand flat on a surface and raise my fingers up to 45 degrees while keeping my palm flat. They will bend back to 90 degrees from the palm with some pressure.
I had read "Colwin's" info on hand position in "breakthrough swimming". This discusses whether the hand should be cupped or flat for good propulsion during swimming. I was also watching a sequence in "New ideas in free & back" by "Marty Hull" where he has the swimmers deliberately " SLIP " water during the pull. They did this by allowing the hand to bend back from the arm.
When i was next in the water I checked my hand position and during the pull my fingers bent back quite far, even though my palm was still at 90 degrees to the water. This allowed the pressure against the water to " flow away".
New fluid dynamics research has shown that the water pressure flows from the fingers up the hand and to the forearm. If the fingers are not slightly cupped then this flow cannot happen as effectively and pressure against the water is lost.
I realised that I was swimming with only my palm (and forearm) providing propulsion. I corrected by making a real effort to slightly cup my fingers and instantly I held more strongly onto the water. My stroke count dropped by 1 - 2 strokes per 25m and my time was 5% less.
I have a meet coming up and I will see then whether my race times will drop after making these changes. Has anyone else noticed this effect while they are swimming ?
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Former Member
Question:
Just wondering, does your palm lead your forearm, lag your forearm, or stay pretty much in the same axis of your forearm?
Try to put your arm around a "balance ball" in the swimming position at the start of the pull. There will be a curve running from your shoulder to elbow to wrist to hand and finger-tips. Your arm should feel like a "blade" or "boomerang" where you trap a "ball of water" within the distance from your armpit to your finger-tips. Do this with the elbow rotated up and away from the body to get the classic "high elbow".
For this to work well your hand should be vertical with your fingers slightly cupped so that your finger-tips are slightly "ahead" of your palm. This position will keep a firm pressure against the water throughout the stroke.
For myself I have to work hard to keep the wrist and fingers in this position. As well as the "freakish" range of motion of my fingers, my wrist will also bend easily back to 90 ' from my arm. I actually have twice the normal range of movement in these areas.
Unfortunately, the one area where abnormal ROM would help me, Plantar-flexion in my ankles is not there. I am at 72' for my left foot and 65' for my right foot. So my kick is adequate at best.
Why have I not noticed this before ?
Well no coach has ever spotted it, I have not been videotaped from underwater and I have never read about the possibility of this happening.
It was just chance and a "hunch" I had that something was not quite right. I will often get in the water to demonstrate to the swimmers I coach. I try hard to show correct form so I am looking out for any "faults" that I may have.
I had also worked on having 'a relaxed hand with slightly open fingers', but this tip is no good for me. So good old fashioned 'cupped hand' works better in my case.
I have worked on some of the "flow shaping" drills. I find that my swimmers can only feel this if they wear fins and kick fast. I do like the concept of teaching the "feel of the water" and i try to feel the water pressure to figure out what is going on.
So much to learn !
Question:
Just wondering, does your palm lead your forearm, lag your forearm, or stay pretty much in the same axis of your forearm?
Try to put your arm around a "balance ball" in the swimming position at the start of the pull. There will be a curve running from your shoulder to elbow to wrist to hand and finger-tips. Your arm should feel like a "blade" or "boomerang" where you trap a "ball of water" within the distance from your armpit to your finger-tips. Do this with the elbow rotated up and away from the body to get the classic "high elbow".
For this to work well your hand should be vertical with your fingers slightly cupped so that your finger-tips are slightly "ahead" of your palm. This position will keep a firm pressure against the water throughout the stroke.
For myself I have to work hard to keep the wrist and fingers in this position. As well as the "freakish" range of motion of my fingers, my wrist will also bend easily back to 90 ' from my arm. I actually have twice the normal range of movement in these areas.
Unfortunately, the one area where abnormal ROM would help me, Plantar-flexion in my ankles is not there. I am at 72' for my left foot and 65' for my right foot. So my kick is adequate at best.
Why have I not noticed this before ?
Well no coach has ever spotted it, I have not been videotaped from underwater and I have never read about the possibility of this happening.
It was just chance and a "hunch" I had that something was not quite right. I will often get in the water to demonstrate to the swimmers I coach. I try hard to show correct form so I am looking out for any "faults" that I may have.
I had also worked on having 'a relaxed hand with slightly open fingers', but this tip is no good for me. So good old fashioned 'cupped hand' works better in my case.
I have worked on some of the "flow shaping" drills. I find that my swimmers can only feel this if they wear fins and kick fast. I do like the concept of teaching the "feel of the water" and i try to feel the water pressure to figure out what is going on.
So much to learn !
