In the overgrown jungle known as "the Fastest Age", this idea came up:
Originally posted by gull80
I thought that anchoring was more a figure of speech, although I did read in TI that your arms/shoulders are much less important than your core muscles (which I still find hard to believe).
I brought up the baseball pitcher analogy that is popular. Craig mentioned he knew of that example, but the pitcher gets to push off the ground. I gave a counter example of throwing in water polo (in an all-deep pool ;) ). At that point, we both got sucked back into... ah... another discussion.
I wanted to start this thread, to see if it would yield any interesting insights. I was talking to a Masters swimmer who went to a training camp at the Olympic Training Center, and she mentioned that the main emphasis was to engage the core muscles during your swim.
I'm certain that I am not using ideal power transfer. I hope that I am not misrepresenting Craig, in saying he is not sure about how this is done.
Parents
Former Member
Working on your sense of timing and tempo can really help if you are trying to engage your core muscles with your pull.
My method is to have a significant body roll at the same time as I pull, and I am using my arms like a propeller blade hooked up to my core body engine. There are two key components:
1) Front Quadrant Swimming (at least one arm in front of my shoulders at all times): I am rotated on my side, leading shoulder closer to the bottom of the pool, recovering arm's shoulder on top. I delay initiating my pull until my recovering hand passes my ear. Then, I initiate my pull, and roll to the opposite side simultaneously.
2) Tempo: Have you ever watched a long track speed skater? Notice their timing: push & glide, push & glide,... Swim a few laps that feel like that: pull & glide, pull & glide,...
When you really have it down, it will show up in your pulling sets. If they felt like they were all arms before, now they will feel like you are still using 90% of your body. Just focus on where your recovering hand is when you start your pull, and rotating your hips. Suddenly, you will start passing people who are wearing paddles, and you are not.
Matt
Working on your sense of timing and tempo can really help if you are trying to engage your core muscles with your pull.
My method is to have a significant body roll at the same time as I pull, and I am using my arms like a propeller blade hooked up to my core body engine. There are two key components:
1) Front Quadrant Swimming (at least one arm in front of my shoulders at all times): I am rotated on my side, leading shoulder closer to the bottom of the pool, recovering arm's shoulder on top. I delay initiating my pull until my recovering hand passes my ear. Then, I initiate my pull, and roll to the opposite side simultaneously.
2) Tempo: Have you ever watched a long track speed skater? Notice their timing: push & glide, push & glide,... Swim a few laps that feel like that: pull & glide, pull & glide,...
When you really have it down, it will show up in your pulling sets. If they felt like they were all arms before, now they will feel like you are still using 90% of your body. Just focus on where your recovering hand is when you start your pull, and rotating your hips. Suddenly, you will start passing people who are wearing paddles, and you are not.
Matt
