Hi again,
I watched the Pan Pacs last weekend and noticed most everyone is using the track start now. Does anyone know who gets credit for introducing the track start to the swimming world? If so, when was it introduced? As a starting point, I will admit switching to the track start in my sophomore year in college- way back in nineteen hundred and eighty four.
I also noticed everyone, including the sprinters, is putting the underwater butterfly kick to good effect. I was pretty surprised to see the 50m folks using it as well. It appeared that they were doing about 3 dophin kicks and then exploding to the top with a freestyle kick. Please correct me if I'm wrong here.
Racer X
I feel I have to tell people that the track start does not give much of an advantage over the grab start.
The track start is praised because it allows for a faster reaction from the block.
The grab start allows more power, but because of the position of the body the reaction is about three-tenths of a second slower. You gain that disadvantage back within the first five seconds of the race because you've entered the water with more power, which means more speed carried through greater distance.
If you're trying to decide which start you want to use, have someone standing at the 15-meter mark timing you on track starts and grab starts. Do two of each.
I feel I have to tell people that the track start does not give much of an advantage over the grab start.
The track start is praised because it allows for a faster reaction from the block.
The grab start allows more power, but because of the position of the body the reaction is about three-tenths of a second slower. You gain that disadvantage back within the first five seconds of the race because you've entered the water with more power, which means more speed carried through greater distance.
If you're trying to decide which start you want to use, have someone standing at the 15-meter mark timing you on track starts and grab starts. Do two of each.
