I've noticed at lot of dicsussion in recent threads about TI principles,
As you can see from my location, I'm on the other side of the atlantic and TI has started to make an impact over here.
I've come across a lot of people in my local University pool who seem to have been mesmerised by the TI message and it is now common for me to see people swimming on their sides with one outstreached arm and a submerged head.
When the time comes to breath these guys have their heads so deep from pressing their bouy that they end up lifting it so high that they loose whatever alignment they had in the first place.
From talking to them, none of them seem to want to develop a proper kick and build up endurance so they can develop
good form.
I have decided to post a list of TI priciples and my own critism of these, feel free to add to the list or post a TI defence!
TI PRINCIPLE 1
Side to Side Rotation
to get into Low Drag Fish-like Position
Criticism
Rotation is good to get extentsion and
a good catch + power into the stroke,
Excessive rotation slows down the stroke.
TI PRINCIPLE 2
Swim DownHill
Press your Bouy
Criticism:
Holding head too deep creates drag
Makes breathing Difficult
TI PRINCIPLE 3
No Kicking
Criticism
Kicking essential to fast swimming
+ to maintain good form particularly
for male swimmers.
TI PRINCIPLE 4
Front Quadrant Swimming/
Distance per stroke,
Criticism
A reasonably high Stroke rate is necessay for
fast swimming,
Unless you have a very strong kick a glide
phase in your stroke will cause decelleration
TI PRINCIPLE 5
Drills will make you a better swimmer
Criticism
Drills are important, but there is no
substitute for good quality fast training.
Parents
Former Member
You mean TI is not the end all and final word on swimming? I think first and foremost we need to remember TI is a business and by the looks of it a successful one. And just like McDonalds they are franchising out and going global. Nothing wrong with that. We love our entrepreneurs in America. However you do bring up some valid criticism. In my coaching, I've used TI style drills for years with swimmers, I find they do have some benefit especially for novice to immediate swimmers. However I have noticed many swimmers who plucked down the $'s for the clinic, bought the books, videos etc. have not become faster swimmers. Prettier swimmers maybe, but not faster swimmers. I believe much of that is an attempt to leap frog their ability without doing the Background (swimming some yards) as Mr. Goodsmith would say. Anyway, Bobby Patten, Head Coach of Dallas Aquatic Masters wrote an article on this several years ago. See linksee link
You mean TI is not the end all and final word on swimming? I think first and foremost we need to remember TI is a business and by the looks of it a successful one. And just like McDonalds they are franchising out and going global. Nothing wrong with that. We love our entrepreneurs in America. However you do bring up some valid criticism. In my coaching, I've used TI style drills for years with swimmers, I find they do have some benefit especially for novice to immediate swimmers. However I have noticed many swimmers who plucked down the $'s for the clinic, bought the books, videos etc. have not become faster swimmers. Prettier swimmers maybe, but not faster swimmers. I believe much of that is an attempt to leap frog their ability without doing the Background (swimming some yards) as Mr. Goodsmith would say. Anyway, Bobby Patten, Head Coach of Dallas Aquatic Masters wrote an article on this several years ago. See linksee link
