Fqs

Originally posted by 330man The goal is to be long and streamlined and to accomplish this you can't have both arms working symetrically. This is a worthy goal, but is it really the goal of front-quadrant swimming? I would say the goal of FQS is to make the propulsive part of the pull as continuous as possible. You can be long and streamlined without FQS, but your stroke will have significant "dead spots."

Originally posted by 330man Without FQS it is impossible to be long at all times. OK, I didn't think about that, but it does make sense. Continuous application of pulling force is another consideration, though. Dima, you might be taking the idea a little far. Yes, if you wait to pull until your recovering arm starts to enter the water that's too long. But you should wait until the recovering arm is around your head. It's pretty obvious "catchup" drill is a good way to help with this, but understand that, like many drills, it is meant to exaggerate a concept.

TI tells people to swim with the top of their head pushing forward and eyes down. If you look at Thorpe & sometimes Hoogie, they are looking straight ahead with their backs very arched. Is this still fQS?

I was just watching some videos from Athens. In two, I was wondering if Thorpe, Shoenman & Hoogie are doing FQS or do they just have very long arms? I also wathched one with Phelps & Shay. I would say that they are definitely doing the technique. theiur strokes look very different to me. Much more rolling & they don't lift their head when they breathe. I tried to attach all three videos but sorry I'm not that talented.

Originally posted by knelson This is a worthy goal, but is it really the goal of front-quadrant swimming? I would say the goal of FQS is to make the propulsive part of the pull as continuous as possible. You can be long and streamlined without FQS, but your stroke will have significant "dead spots." Without FQS it is impossible to be long at all times. Here is an article that will better describe FQS...www.usms.org/.../circles.htm

I believe in the idea of starting the stroke with one hand as your other hand approaches your head or so but like someone here said I tried to hold that pulling hand stretched until the other hand almost hits the water and that just slows me down and almost kills my body roll, so if the latter is considered to be more in a field of a fqs then I do not think it really works ...

Great point. The TI method seems to imply that Thorpe's technique can be reduced to a set of drills that will work for everyone. Ironically, the coaches of these elite swimmers see things very differently. Bill Rose, Lars Jensen's coach, was interviewed for Swimming Technique. He, like others, feels very strongly that technique should be individualized, rather than completely overhauling each swimmer's stroke.

Mark Spitz broke the mold with his body roll. Michael Phelps breaks the mold with his breathe on every stroke butterfly. Even elite swimmers create their own personal style. What is important is to watch these elite swimmers and try various parts of their strokes that you think might aid your own swimming. Perhaps a Hoogie catch and a Phelps dolphin kick off of the wall. To each his own but FQS is viable for most any swimmer.

The problem is that TI has focussed so much attention on front quadrant swimming that you have people swimming a catch up style (rather than just using it as a drill)--smooth but slow. The catch up drill is really an exaggerated form of front quadrant swimming.

Catch up works well for me and allows me to swim an 800 free in under 15 minutes with little effort. When I want to swim fast the catch up becomes front quadrant and my turnover rate increases. However, I still maintain my long sleek vessel that is best for reducing drag.