I submit that swimming is one of the worst sports in terms of following fad techniques simply because someone has been successful using that technique.
I submit that talent or genetics, aerobic capacity, workout intensity as well as mental toughness play a far greater roll than mere stroke technique in the end.
Seems like the US latches on to the winner's stroke techniques all too often as the way explain success and teach kids. Front quadrant swimming like Ian Thorpe..... head down sprinting like Popoff..... these guys would be successful in their events with or without these techniques in my opinion.
Except for the latest cheating techniques...... i.e. flip turns on backstroke, underwater dolphin kick on backstroke, head under on breastroke, full body suits, and the soon to be dolphin kick on breastroke pull outs, the sport has not improved a whole lot in the last 25 years.... especially when you compare it to 25 years previous to 1980..... (1955)
Thought for the day...... :-)
John Smith
Parents
Former Member
Swimming scientist Huub Toussaint has done research on propelling efficiency, which is a major indicator of swimming ability, as shown in this experiment. The competitive swimmers tested had about 40% better propelling efficiency than the triathletes. Most simply, propelling efficiency is better when a greater force is being applied to the water, and worse when the propelling surface (hand) is moving faster.
What causes one's propelling efficiency to be good or bad? Another experiment shows that propelling efficiency increases by 8% with hand paddles, so it helps to have big hands. There must also be an element of stroke technique. This element is often called "natural talent," but I think it can just as well be the result of "hard work," or spending a lot of time swimming fast.
When people talk about "technique," they are often talking about superficial things like head position and arm recovery style. Therefore, if someone mimicks the look of Ian Thorpe, they get praised for having "perfect technique," and it's assumed that they need to either improve their aerobic capacity or that they have maximized their swimming potential. But such people don't have perfect technique. As you said, they are just following a fad. Their propelling efficiency is lacking, maybe along with a few other hidden technique elements. They are moving their hands through the water too quickly without applying enough force to it, and that can be fixed with proper training focus.
Also, I think Thorpe's front quandrant style actually is an important element of his technique. It allows him to emphasize his kick by pausing in a low drag position at the start of each arm stroke.
Swimming scientist Huub Toussaint has done research on propelling efficiency, which is a major indicator of swimming ability, as shown in this experiment. The competitive swimmers tested had about 40% better propelling efficiency than the triathletes. Most simply, propelling efficiency is better when a greater force is being applied to the water, and worse when the propelling surface (hand) is moving faster.
What causes one's propelling efficiency to be good or bad? Another experiment shows that propelling efficiency increases by 8% with hand paddles, so it helps to have big hands. There must also be an element of stroke technique. This element is often called "natural talent," but I think it can just as well be the result of "hard work," or spending a lot of time swimming fast.
When people talk about "technique," they are often talking about superficial things like head position and arm recovery style. Therefore, if someone mimicks the look of Ian Thorpe, they get praised for having "perfect technique," and it's assumed that they need to either improve their aerobic capacity or that they have maximized their swimming potential. But such people don't have perfect technique. As you said, they are just following a fad. Their propelling efficiency is lacking, maybe along with a few other hidden technique elements. They are moving their hands through the water too quickly without applying enough force to it, and that can be fixed with proper training focus.
Also, I think Thorpe's front quandrant style actually is an important element of his technique. It allows him to emphasize his kick by pausing in a low drag position at the start of each arm stroke.
