I'm looking to gain more knowledge about sprint freestyle swimming. As an long retired distance freestyler I don't have a great deal of personal knowledge of how to swim the 50 or 100 freestyle. I've coached many sprint freestylers and I know that many of the best sprinters have what I would say an amazing strategy to their sprint swims. I am currently giving private lessons to many age groupers and high school swimmers and I've been explaining to them that some of the best sprinters in the world swim their 50 or 100 with more strategy than just the plain old thought of swimming "FAST".
I would very much appreciate any of you sprinters out there who would like to share your strategies for swimming these two events. I would love to be able to pass on some of this information, but I think many of us in the masters community could learn from some of you as well. I look forward to seeing some of the responses. Maybe I will try sprinting one day (LOL):rofl: .
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I am no expert but I always plan to be exhausted right as I touch the wall whether it be a 50 or a 100. In the 50 I will take 2-3 breaths on the way down and generally just one on the way back. If you can pull it off it makes a big difference. I dropped a consistent/solid second off of my 50 time by reducing the number of breaths I take. I also try to maintain non-stop arm action, kayaking arms if you will. There is little to no glide time in my 50 stroke because my arms are always in motion.
I don't think a whole lot about my 100 but I tend to split them pretty well for some reason...usually within a second or two between the first and second 50.
Having said that, I usually practice my sprints on days when my pool time is limited. Swimming fast 50's takes it toll on me in a shorter period of time than a bunch of slower 100's mixed with kicking.
I am no expert but I always plan to be exhausted right as I touch the wall whether it be a 50 or a 100. In the 50 I will take 2-3 breaths on the way down and generally just one on the way back. If you can pull it off it makes a big difference. I dropped a consistent/solid second off of my 50 time by reducing the number of breaths I take. I also try to maintain non-stop arm action, kayaking arms if you will. There is little to no glide time in my 50 stroke because my arms are always in motion.
I don't think a whole lot about my 100 but I tend to split them pretty well for some reason...usually within a second or two between the first and second 50.
Having said that, I usually practice my sprints on days when my pool time is limited. Swimming fast 50's takes it toll on me in a shorter period of time than a bunch of slower 100's mixed with kicking.
