OK...it appears I may be somewhat dated in my thinking regarding the optimal head position for freestyle. I have always used the 'where the water meets the hairline is the correct head position'...of course that's assuming you have a hairline. I have noticed this Phelps kid (man, he's quick) lowers his head in the freestyle.
Can someone shed some light on the correct psoition or is it one of those 'it depends' answer.
WOW!! Thanks for the quick lessons...I have been converted!!
LK 1/16/04 2:35 PM EST
Former Member
Matt is absolutely right, the best is Swimming Made Easy.
It is funny, Terry has slightly modified his drills, and mainstream coaches have adopted many of his drills and put new names to them.
For the short axis strokes I never put as much emphasis on head lead body dolphin as he did. I usually go straight to hand lead. The swimmers can't cheat as much by swimming underwater:p
Former Member
Maglischo has 4 books out. Swimming Faster and Swimming Even Faster are great. His newest one Swimming Fastest is the largest in size. It is the only one that does not hold up to complete scientific scrutiny. Many sports scientists are not pleased with it.
Mike Bottom is probably talking about Swimming Even Faster.
I highly recommend Sprinting - A coaching Challenge, by Sam Freas.
Also Total Imersion - Terry Laughlin
These are just my opinions, I read a lot.
Former Member
gull80
Do you have a copy of his latest Swimming Fastest? Compare it to Colwin's book.
I was most concerned with the breaststroke section, but the undertone from my contacts in the sports science community is that his freestyle and backstroke ideas are not holding up to what is actually observed. I would have to spend way more time than I have to go through his entire book.
To me the breaststroke section is all wrong, not enough mention of why people are going so fast now compared with his Swimming Even Faster ideas. The new streamline should be foremost, as well as the growing trend towards a true pull rather than a sculling arm action.
If anyone is interested in breaststroke, I can email them my latest article on the new evolution in stroke mechanics that is seen in the new world record holder from Japan and by many others.
