Hey folk,
I've heard different viewpoints about my freestyle, and I wonder if I could hear from you on these various opinions:
1. Previous masters' coach: focus on high elbows, fingertips in first. (I hope I'm interpreting him right.)
2. Same coach: kick from hips, not knees (hard one... my kickboard sets are not pretty!)...
3. Swim instructor who happened to observe me one day: too much splash on kick (maybe related to #2)
4. Guy who swims pretty fast and efficiently in nearby lane: "You have a strong kick, but you don't reach far enough. Your hand goes into the water too soon." Tried more of a reach, and it did seem to help my time a little... read: VERY slow to merely "very slow" (sans caps). ;)
5. Current masters' coach: "If you've been swimming a certain way for a while, it actually could slow you down to mess with your stroke too much."
And... can a person who is still in pursuit of a sub two minute 100 have any hope of becoming not "very slow" but merely "slow" or even "halfway approaching fast"? I'm 55 and a regular runner as well as swimmer, so reasonably fit (resting heart rate of 31 measured a couple of days ago).
Thanks for your comments!
Good advice, and thanks Jan!
And an update... At today's masters' practice, I put this question to the coach: "If you could get me to change ONE thing about my stroke to make it better, what would you change?" Actually his response was a combination of two things, combining what Geochuck and Bud said--elbow position and reach. We had a set of 4x100, first two hard, second two medium effort. (Bear in mind that the times I will mention are good... for me... I have no illusions here.) First two were both 2:05. I asked him the advice right after these two (was actually fairly pleased w/ these times, my goal being to get under 2 mins.).
Then I focused on the advice (thought I was focusing before, but tried to increase my concentration even more on the points he mentioned). While my effort was easier in no. 3, the time was only one second slower, 2:06! I was really shocked what a difference such an adjustment could make. The next time slid up to 2:10... me getting tired of sustaining my hard won stroke improvement, maybe... but still, I've had slower times working a lot harder.
Another observation: at the end of any swim workout, I usually go to the corner of a pool and do some "dips" (like those you might do in the gym only using the sides of the pool instead). But when I finished the "warmdown," I couldn't even think of lifting myself as I'd done after other workouts. Nothing left in the arms. (Gave it a moment's rest, though, and then succeeded.) I guess my arms and shoulders have to get used to that movement/reach. Also maybe abs need work.
Good advice, and thanks Jan!
And an update... At today's masters' practice, I put this question to the coach: "If you could get me to change ONE thing about my stroke to make it better, what would you change?" Actually his response was a combination of two things, combining what Geochuck and Bud said--elbow position and reach. We had a set of 4x100, first two hard, second two medium effort. (Bear in mind that the times I will mention are good... for me... I have no illusions here.) First two were both 2:05. I asked him the advice right after these two (was actually fairly pleased w/ these times, my goal being to get under 2 mins.).
Then I focused on the advice (thought I was focusing before, but tried to increase my concentration even more on the points he mentioned). While my effort was easier in no. 3, the time was only one second slower, 2:06! I was really shocked what a difference such an adjustment could make. The next time slid up to 2:10... me getting tired of sustaining my hard won stroke improvement, maybe... but still, I've had slower times working a lot harder.
Another observation: at the end of any swim workout, I usually go to the corner of a pool and do some "dips" (like those you might do in the gym only using the sides of the pool instead). But when I finished the "warmdown," I couldn't even think of lifting myself as I'd done after other workouts. Nothing left in the arms. (Gave it a moment's rest, though, and then succeeded.) I guess my arms and shoulders have to get used to that movement/reach. Also maybe abs need work.
