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
Quoting free142 from Ireland, "...view the arm recovery in freestyle as time to give the recovering arm muscles a little rest."
A coupla thoughts about these introductory words about the arm in recovery. As for giving the recovering muscles "a little rest", it has always been my impression that this is achieved by employing a "ballistic" recovery. That is, the entire effort is employed at the position of rearward extension, hurling the hand and arm forward as if throwing a ball, and so being completely relaxed at the same time. Anything other than "ballistic" seems to me to require an effort to hold back on the muscles that would rather be free.
Otherwise, this "cycling" has the stroking arm working hard as it works against the resistance of the water, while the recovering arm is being held back with some effort through the "nonresisting" air as it is being extended. Thus, the "energy cost of a fast recovery" would be less rather than more by a significant amout.
And what better time to throw in the thought that when the hand has a thumb-first entry, in swimmers jargon, the elbow is already a "high elbow", and, thus, no more thought need be given to the "dreaded dropped elbow syndrome".
Quoting free142 from Ireland, "...view the arm recovery in freestyle as time to give the recovering arm muscles a little rest."
A coupla thoughts about these introductory words about the arm in recovery. As for giving the recovering muscles "a little rest", it has always been my impression that this is achieved by employing a "ballistic" recovery. That is, the entire effort is employed at the position of rearward extension, hurling the hand and arm forward as if throwing a ball, and so being completely relaxed at the same time. Anything other than "ballistic" seems to me to require an effort to hold back on the muscles that would rather be free.
Otherwise, this "cycling" has the stroking arm working hard as it works against the resistance of the water, while the recovering arm is being held back with some effort through the "nonresisting" air as it is being extended. Thus, the "energy cost of a fast recovery" would be less rather than more by a significant amout.
And what better time to throw in the thought that when the hand has a thumb-first entry, in swimmers jargon, the elbow is already a "high elbow", and, thus, no more thought need be given to the "dreaded dropped elbow syndrome".
