Distance per stroke

RE: Distance per stroke

Former Member — Mon, 05 Apr 2004 08:08:48 GMT

Originally posted by knelson I don't think you're going to get all that long of streamline unless you kick, though! You'll just cork up to the surface at some point. You'd be wrong, for me at least. I'm not much a kicker (too much distance training will do that to ya) and I've got good push offs from the walls without really kicking. As for floating up to the surface, it's just a matter of knowing how far you can push off before you lose forward momentum. Then accomidate for that distance and angle your body to reach the surface before you lose forward momentum. Hope that made sense. But kicking off the wall is a good idea - I'm just lazy ;)

RE: Distance per stroke

Former Member — Sat, 03 Apr 2004 09:06:29 GMT

a while back i was practicing distance per stroke,i think it was after being on the same thread about it,when i noticed that even without increasing speed(ie.not pulling faster)i seemed to be doing really good times compared to normal,these were breaststroke sets.I do more free now ...i wonder if i can see the same improvement if i do some with free???!!!***i know ive been doing increased strokes per breath lately(4)so maybe i'll incorporate lengthy strokes too!!

RE: Distance per stroke

Paul Smith — Thu, 01 Apr 2004 10:24:17 GMT

I'm a big fan of DPS drills, but the common mistake I see is that people use them but don't take the next step which is increasing speed. One of the sets Popov was famous for was a series of 50s, each one had to maintain the same stroke count but drop a second. He'd go until his stroke count incresed, then back off and start over. DPS is great, but DPS with speed is a whole different animal!

RE: Distance per stroke

swimr4life — Thu, 01 Apr 2004 10:13:04 GMT

Old dog, I agree with you. The best way to improve is to work on technique. I'm impressed with your ability to count your strokes on every lap. If I did that, i'd probably run into the wall. I'm lucky to remember how many laps I've done if it's anything over a 200!:p

RE: Distance per stroke

Former Member — Thu, 01 Apr 2004 06:46:26 GMT

Originally posted by Paul Smith I'm a big fan of DPS drills, but the common mistake I see is that people use them but don't take the next step which is increasing speed. One of the sets Popov was famous for was a series of 50s, each one had to maintain the same stroke count but drop a second. He'd go until his stroke count incresed, then back off and start over. DPS is great, but DPS with speed is a whole different animal! Yeah, our coach has us doing that... start off noice and slow with a count, then makes us try and descend it. Tough sets!

RE: Distance per stroke

Former Member — Wed, 31 Mar 2004 16:57:01 GMT

If you were to interrupt me in the middle of a workout, and ask me how many strokes did I just do in the last 25 yards, I would say ... Uh, 17.. or what ever....I count my strokes per lap continuously, automatically...I always strive for less...whether swimming fast, medium or slow...this the measure of our efficiency in the water...I believe, like TI, that this reduction in drag is where we can build speed as we get older.

RE: Distance per stroke

Former Member — Wed, 31 Mar 2004 12:12:02 GMT

Originally posted by knelson So was this with a pull buoy? 10 strokes or 10 cycles? If you're talking 10 strokes that's impressive without a kick. I could get into single digits, but probably not without kicking. that was without a pull buoy well, if you neglect the size of my built-in rear flotation device ;) No, not 10 cycles (that would be 20 strokes) 1-left 2-right 3-left 4-right 5-left - breathe - etc... I think I did 5 count breating on that one. They were long and stretched out and not very fast. The major progress was that I was able to stay in the streamlined position for a long time, and continue to glide along, even if slowly, without having to take another stroke or getting out of balance.

RE: Distance per stroke

knelson — Wed, 31 Mar 2004 12:05:49 GMT

Originally posted by Conniekat8 Do you do DPS drills? We did some yesterday, and I was able to do 10 (25Y pool) - without kicking. So was this with a pull buoy? 10 strokes or 10 cycles? If you're talking 10 strokes that's impressive without a kick. I could get into single digits, but probably not without kicking.

RE: Distance per stroke

swimr4life — Wed, 31 Mar 2004 11:49:38 GMT

Connie, that is an excellent DPS! A fun way to get DPS drills in is to play "golf" as part of your warm-up! You do a set of 5 descending 50's free on 1:00 and count your strokes. Note your time on each 50. Add your time to your DPS number. This is your "golf" score. Try to descend your score with each 50. Its fun!

RE: Distance per stroke

Former Member — Wed, 31 Mar 2004 09:53:56 GMT

Originally posted by knelson So was this with a pull buoy? 10 strokes or 10 cycles? If you're talking 10 strokes that's impressive without a kick. I could get into single digits, but probably not without kicking. Just work on getting a longer/better push off/streamline from the wall. The longer your push off, the less strokes you take, the less energy you expend :)

RE: Distance per stroke

knelson — Wed, 31 Mar 2004 07:01:56 GMT

Originally posted by DocWhoRocks Just work on getting a longer/better push off/streamline from the wall. The longer your push off, the less strokes you take, the less energy you expend :) I don't think you're going to get all that long of streamline unless you kick, though! You'll just cork up to the surface at some point.

RE: Distance per stroke

Former Member — Tue, 30 Mar 2004 12:51:44 GMT

Originally posted by kaelonj I think a common mistake or fallacy is not doing drills during warm up - if you are doing a 300 or 400 warm up why not put in a few lengths of drills into your warm up - don't wait for the coach to tell you to do drills (sort of like vegetables in a meat and potato diet - they're good for you so help yourself and take seconds). Jeff Very true! My coach mentions this often. He also often calls for drills during warmup anyway.

RE: Distance per stroke

Former Member — Tue, 30 Mar 2004 12:11:51 GMT

I think a common mistake or fallacy is not doing drills during warm up - if you are doing a 300 or 400 warm up why not put in a few lengths of drills into your warm up - don't wait for the coach to tell you to do drills (sort of like vegetables in a meat and potato diet - they're good for you so help yourself and take seconds). Jeff

RE: Distance per stroke

Former Member — Tue, 30 Mar 2004 11:23:27 GMT

Don't wait for your coach, simply count your strokes for a length, then concentrate on how you could become more efficient. Work on taking a stroke off in the next length. When I am passing another swimmer, I try to stretch out and glide past as opposed to speeding past. See if that idea works. Remember that there is an aspect of critical velocity. Where it is not as efficient to have too long a stroke and loose the efficient forward even momentum. Your coach will be able to tell you this.

RE: Distance per stroke

Former Member — Tue, 30 Mar 2004 10:31:24 GMT

Yes, I do these too - but can only do 12. Hmmmmmm. Oh well, I am a late bloomer. In the "Dark-haired, German, Italian and Polish descent, 5'9-1/2", engineer, late bloomer category I can do lower stroke count than anyone!":)

RE: Distance per stroke

Former Member — Tue, 30 Mar 2004 10:31:00 GMT

Haven't done any DPS drills for free in a while. Maybe I can get our coach to let us do some tonight. I wanna say last time I did them I got down to 9 or 10.