Freestyle Stroke Question

I start of slow and try to really tune into the feeling of "smooth efficiency" and catching as much water as possible....long underwater dolphin kicking and tight streamlining off of every turn until I feel I have reached a comfortable "groove".....then I gradually try and pick up the pace every 100 or so untill I am moving at a rate that is beyond anerobic threshhold to maintain for too long. I use pretty much the same approach. Slow first with longish glides (exagerated at first, "catchup like"), then I reach some sort of a "sweet spot" speed/distance per stroke ratio. After a while I can really feel the involvement of the latissimus dorsi muscles (back muscles). Thanks NMS, I can relate to your approach to freestyle, as much as I relate to your take on energy efficiency, in the pool as well as in the real life.

Thanks for the video, George. Could be the camera angle, but in that view it appeared that Thorpe's shoulder was adducting, and his arm was actually moving (dare I say propelling him?) through the water. Someone really should tell him not to waste so much energy on his nonpropulsive kick.

Gull I thought it was a great video. I also noticed the bubbles made by his hands, do you think they were anchored in one place or was he exerting too much pressure?

I noticed that, too. Could be spontaneous bubble formation on a stationary underwater object. Alternatively, he might actually be exerting a lot of pressure wiith his hands. Don't try this at home.

One of the interesting things to me is how very different we all are in how "connect" to various terminology. In reading all of Terry's posts over the last month or so I'd have to say that the vast majority of the metaphors/explanations he uses resonate fo me. Effortless: Rather than "attack" this phrase, scoff at or dismiss I'd think people who have interest in geting better would explore it. I know that for myself and every elite swimmer I've ever spoken with this is a sensation that thy felt when the had theyre absolute best swims.....it is often however refered to as being in the zone. When I have been there....it was not without effort...in fact it was with just intense effort that I was almost physically ill afterwards.....however in the race the sensation was incredible and indeed had elemants of being effortless..... Weigth shift: Something that several very respected college coaches I know have described in a lightly differnet way but still the same thing. I focused more on it this morning and found that yes indeed....the "length" that I acheive in both free and back is an actual subtle shift deriving from my hips and creating a "reach" that gives th appaearnce of catch up free. I tried to think in terms of weight shift in water vs. on land and the sensation to me of free/back was most similar to hitting a volleyball over a blocker....elevation, extension and hip/shoulder/arm drive thru.... Hand Anchoring: again misleading if interpreted "literally" but in my case for fly/free (haven't gotten there ith back yet...but working on it)...it is an absolutey accurate analogy.....my sensation is that I swim thru my hand vs. drive my hand thru.....when in reality there is absolute force being generated...the "plant" that takes place is actually in motion but the appearance and sensation is what Terry describes. I do question everything and in TI still have some things I'm not sure about....but I can't deny that what I "hear" on many of these descriptions from Terry is what I see in myself. Matt Shirely.....I know you've fallen off your chair in reading this because of all the good debates you and I have had...!! :thhbbb:

George, I suspect that surfing your own bow wave is a physical impossibility, as you speed up to get past your bow wave your bow wave would also speed up. And the only energy in your bow wave is what you put there so what would there be to gain? I would guess that swimming downhill is a sensation associated with swimming with elevated hips not a propulsive physical reality like bodysurfing where you are utilizing the energy invested in the wave by external forces. On the other hand, if you truly believe that you can outswim your bow wave the attempt at doing so may make you faster. Similar to trying to outrun your shadow I guess. ;)

Yes you are right, maybe. The hand can be and is in the bow wave and is in the bow wave similar to the body surfer who has his hand out front rather than like the surfer who has his hands at his sides. So I will try to catch that bow wave and get it under my chest. I may never do it but at least I can try. I already know my hand is in my bow wave and it helps.

Terry, thanks for the explanation of what you mean by effortless. I still think it is unfortunate terminology, but at least I know what you mean by it. The thought that those people who swim so much faster than I do while making it look effortless would be truly depressing if they were literally doing it effortlessly! I'll continue to work on my efficiency so I'll swim at slower speeds with less effort and be swimming faster when I am using maximum effort. :)

I am honestly not trying to be pedantic, it is just that when people describe swimming as effortless I don't know what they mean if they aren't referring to swimming relatively slowly. :dunno: You're right to question or correct me on the way I used 'effortless'. It was a bad choice. What I was trying to say, is that it's possible to swim those pace (1:15) with a RPE score relatively low given that we're able to maintain a good technique. Thanks to bringing my back in the right lane !

I finally found out that effortless swimming is not effortless or am I misquoting again? 1:15y repeats relates to 1:28m very good. Not Olympic time yet but good, especially after all those other repeats. I have almost lost my relationship to yard swimming thanks for this swim time converter I can - www.ilswim.org/timeconversion.htm One other thought can we use body surfing to help us get faster, Matt Mann told me to catch the bow wave and swim downhill. Found this very interesting article on catching the wave. education.guardian.co.uk/.../0,3858,4970727-108233,00.html