I would like to hear thoughts on strength training for masters swimming. Here are a few questions of interest to me and also, I hope, to other forum members:
1. Is dry land strength transferable to the water? As far as I know, this is a very controversial question. The answer to this primary question is of the utmost importance. I remember reading that the great Australian coach Forbes Carlile didn't let Kieren Pierkins weight train because he felt that the answer to this question was no. Pierkins was the first swimmer to break 15:00 in the 1500m.
2. Most of us master swimmers have very busy professional carrers and our time is limited. So - should we cut into pool time to strength train?
3. If we conclude that strength training is beneficial to the swimmer then what method of strength training to employ? Free weights, machines, cables, cords, bodyweight exercises - combinations of these?
I have some more questions but I think that this is enough for openers.
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Former Member
I beleive dry land works really well if done correctly and will improve but not to replace work in the water.I've heard Ian Thorpe an Matt Welsh have less pool and more land work than many other Aussie swimmers.
I don't think Perkins trained under Forbes though.It doesn't sound like a Forbes Carlile idea.Forbes was and is quite innovative.He'd be more likely to try anything and was the first to introduce many land drills in Australia.
Time is the issue for me so I tend to focus more on stretching than weights.If I had time I'd definately do both .
I beleive dry land works really well if done correctly and will improve but not to replace work in the water.I've heard Ian Thorpe an Matt Welsh have less pool and more land work than many other Aussie swimmers.
I don't think Perkins trained under Forbes though.It doesn't sound like a Forbes Carlile idea.Forbes was and is quite innovative.He'd be more likely to try anything and was the first to introduce many land drills in Australia.
Time is the issue for me so I tend to focus more on stretching than weights.If I had time I'd definately do both .
