Sprint Coaches - where are you - I need help ??

Here is the question for me right now - turnover rate OR distance per stroke ? Here is the "story" -- I was always good at distance per stroke, but I want to focus on speed and sprints so I have been working to up my turnover - going max speed my stroke per minute or turnover rate is 58-60 .. hard to keep for full 25 ... its is max I have. But I did notice that I would get close to that in 100 pace swim where I probably go more or longer distance per stroke -- so now I did a test. 8x25 all out every 6 minutes - did this 2x .... always altered between max turnover swims - they were always 58sh -- and long stroke swim at 48 turnover rate --- and I always swam same times - 12.5 seconds flip turn to flip turn (easier for me to video and time)  - all same time - either way - they were all MAX effort regardless -- just used better catch on the 48 turnover swims - but still max effort. Also on the high turnover swims I used 2-3 extra strokes for the 25 -- makes sense ....  so the goal is easy - swim close or at 58 turnover but use close to distance per stroke from the "long catch swims" --- 

So - long question - which way to train --- train at the high turnover rate and try to slowly lengthen distance per stroke while keeping rate same --- OR use the long stroke and just keep tryin to up turnover to 49 then 50 and so on ... no tools or toys yet -- that will be part of this eventually but for now just simple good sprint swimming. 

Yep - my way to keep myself entertained in the pool :) 

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  • I say this as a distance swimmer and a lifelong student of distance swimmer Penny Lee Dean: you have not trained in sprinting. 

    Your post title calls for sprint-specific coaching. Your long question though is about variations in your current swim stroke, which is not at all a sprint stroke. It may be your max effort, and it may be over a short 25 yard distance, but it is not a sprint stroke. 

    With my coaching hat now on, my suggestion is to ask your coach to coach you toward your goal. The discussion about your turnover from 48 to a max of 60 strokes per minute tells me as a coach that you are either a giant human with super long arms or that your stroke is a distance-style freestyle, meaning long reach and probably a pause at full extension for glide. This is an excellent technique for channel swimming, which I coach, and for distance pool swims like the 6000m postal swim, which I was national champion in some years ago. 

    If you’re willing to create a brand new way of swimming and do quickness training, then you can cause your arms to turn over 65-70+ strokes per minute and create a powerful kick. 

    As you may be able to tell, I have done this work for myself. Recently I got my body to transition from marathon-distance open water freestyle technique to sprint freestyle to play better water polo and underwater torpedo. Email me if you’re interested. I don’t regularly check this forum. Jacquelineinbusiness@yahoo.com -Coach Jax Cole

  • Well - not sure we are using the same measure ... 50F world championship quick video check and its 62-59 for tall guys stroke rate size like me .. 192cm -- so not that far off - I have 200 Stroke - that was "my distance" - good glide, long distance per stroke ... ultra distance rates are much lower for most - like Olympics 1500 most are mid 30s stroke rate 

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  • Well - not sure we are using the same measure ... 50F world championship quick video check and its 62-59 for tall guys stroke rate size like me .. 192cm -- so not that far off - I have 200 Stroke - that was "my distance" - good glide, long distance per stroke ... ultra distance rates are much lower for most - like Olympics 1500 most are mid 30s stroke rate 

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