Okay, yesterday while I went to the pool to swim laps, I decided to be a little adventurous and check out a starter block for my lane.
When I (shakily) got on the block, I knew the starting position, but I'm having difficulty jumping off with distance for a good start. I usually belly flop or end up just "jumping" off of it.
Any pointers?
I'd like to know how to properly get off a starter block without busting my belly or getting seriously hurt.
Thanks!
Parents
Former Member
You don't need to get much in a way of air distance off the block.
Too much time in the air kills yor velocity, and once you splash in the water, you slow down drastically, not to mention the belly flop from landing too flat.
You probably want to get in at about 30 degree angle between your body and the water, sort of torpedoing in the water, where your whole body goes through one hole in the water, about the size of the cross section of your chest.
Diving in sooner, as you have more velocity helps you streamline longer and faster in the water.
Then as you splash through the water and head towards the bottom, straighten up your arms, push them behind the ears not bending the head down below the arms, but pushing your arms up and backwards till your biceps are behind the ears, that will redirect you up, instead of heading straight to the bottom.
That will be good for the start, when you get comgfortable with that you can start fine tuning your starts.
Also, you want to do this in a pool with plenty of depth (around 6 feet), especially at the beginning.
There are videos that can be rented with this technique... It was taught at a few clinics I went to. I'd tell you which one it is but I have to refresh my memory, or ask around.
Reply
Former Member
You don't need to get much in a way of air distance off the block.
Too much time in the air kills yor velocity, and once you splash in the water, you slow down drastically, not to mention the belly flop from landing too flat.
You probably want to get in at about 30 degree angle between your body and the water, sort of torpedoing in the water, where your whole body goes through one hole in the water, about the size of the cross section of your chest.
Diving in sooner, as you have more velocity helps you streamline longer and faster in the water.
Then as you splash through the water and head towards the bottom, straighten up your arms, push them behind the ears not bending the head down below the arms, but pushing your arms up and backwards till your biceps are behind the ears, that will redirect you up, instead of heading straight to the bottom.
That will be good for the start, when you get comgfortable with that you can start fine tuning your starts.
Also, you want to do this in a pool with plenty of depth (around 6 feet), especially at the beginning.
There are videos that can be rented with this technique... It was taught at a few clinics I went to. I'd tell you which one it is but I have to refresh my memory, or ask around.
