I suspect many people (myself included) view the arm
recovery in freestyle as time to give the recovering arm
muscles a little rest.
But consider the possible advantages of working the recovery
a bit harder. (This is at speeds less than sprinting)
(a) The recovering arm could be back in streamline sooner
so less form drag.
(b) The recovering arm will be more free of bubbles
when beginning the catch,
(c) The recovered arm can begin to catch as soon as
the pushing arm leaves the water.
(d) The energy cost of a fast recovery isn't that high.
The recovering arm moves through air not dense water.
(e) Front quadrant swimming is still achieved without introducing
any delay in the pulling arm i.e. you are not waiting
for the recovering arm to "catch-up" before staring the
pull.
Any Comments?!?
Parents
Former Member
Originally posted by geochuck
Yes I did do it but it was to rest the arms and take the reves up but was combined with the direct to catch hand entered slightly above the head and directly to the catch. I swam past other swimmers and there coaches wondered how I was able to turnover so fast at the 20 mile mark on a 28 mile race. Buck Dawson said I went by his swimmer doing 85 strokes a minute. I can see what you are talking about here but the original poster is suggesting that the stroke rate remain the same. Only the recovery would be accelerated in his theoretical stroke modification. The stroke you are reffering to is actually quite common in sprinters, no?
Originally posted by geochuck
Yes I did do it but it was to rest the arms and take the reves up but was combined with the direct to catch hand entered slightly above the head and directly to the catch. I swam past other swimmers and there coaches wondered how I was able to turnover so fast at the 20 mile mark on a 28 mile race. Buck Dawson said I went by his swimmer doing 85 strokes a minute. I can see what you are talking about here but the original poster is suggesting that the stroke rate remain the same. Only the recovery would be accelerated in his theoretical stroke modification. The stroke you are reffering to is actually quite common in sprinters, no?
