The first loss of a master is memory, the second...I forgot. I probably have already asked this question, but here goes:
Does anyone bring their arm straight down and out after the grab? I am talking no sculling, no lateral movement, just bringing the arm straight parallel with the line maintaining the elbow high position. This would be to avoid crossing the midline with your forearm. Even though I breathe on the left, I still rotate fully to the right (a learned and trained and voluntary movement), but even so my right forearm tends to the middle, while my left arm has less pull and is erractic. When I learned the crawl it was from watching Tarzan movies, later when I was 16 and in a USA high school they taught the S shaped movement or the straight down and back. In those days the breathing was to one side. Last question: aside from timing both methods, what are your preferences on the long dolphin versus "less dolphin" emerging sooner method of starts and turns on a 50 meter short course freestyle race? Thanks, billy fanstone
Former Member
Here is a question that I have on the freestyle arm recovery. I have been under the impression that when a person starts to recover the arm forward, that it stays tight to the body.
David
This motion you are explaining sounds like a drill to learn a bent arm recovery. I of course do not believe you should do many drills.
The vortex (tornado like turbulence behind the hand) that establishes itself as the hand moves through the water should be avoided. A vortex creates a loss of pressure the hand can exert as it tries to hold water or as it tries to create pressure on the hand. So, the sculling motion allows the hand to avoid establishing a vortex as it moves the body over it and into water that is more still. The straighter the pulling pattern the greater chance the hand has at increasing a vortex.
The body type of an individual is another important factor as one tries to establish the most effective pulling pattern. Eddy currents surrounding a moving body should be avoided by the hand. Therefore, as a rule of thumb, the larger your waist size the straighter your pulling pattern (not really a contradiction but an important nuance to consider). For example, a skinny person can move their hand under and closer to their body without fear of moving into an Eddy current while a fatter person on the other hand has less leeway-way in that regard.
To answer your question a straight arm pull should be avoided during the underwater phases of the stroke, with the extension of the arm upon the entry as the exception. Good luck, Coach T.
Interesting. I go straight with forearm and hand to avoid crossing the midline, although that happens mostly on the right side, probably because I only breathe to the left. But, I have about 5 Levi's put away in the hope that I will someday wear them. I am now a 36 inch waist but was a 34 till about 5 years ago. Maybe when I am again a 34 waist guy I will be need to do the S or will be able to do the S without crossing over. I love the input from this forum! Philosophy, physics, philology, phrench, everything is analyzed deeply and thouroughly, leaving no unturned stones. billy fanstone
I love the input from this forum! Philosophy, physics, philology, phrench, everything is analyzed deeply and thouroughly, leaving no unturned stones. billy fanstone With not much flames, which is a surprising fact given it deals with swimming beliefs.
One of the best forums I've seen so far.
I've been a forum rat since 1996. I started at runnersworld.com and from there went onto other running sites, later anesthesiology forums, and even an athletic forum in Brazil. The software evolved, sometimes became less friendly, but mostly the modifications were due to fear of law suits and/or litigation from the flame wars. That is life. After so many years of internet forum availability I think most people have done their share of arguments and flame wars. Unless you are a complete newbie you don't pick fights or fall for the easy baits thrown out. But believe me, there is no difference between fighting and arguing amongst runners or swimmers, and professors of anesthesiology and other ivory tower members. My most fun was baiting colleagues on an anesthesiology list. I am now a peace and love guy. Probably because I am a lousy swimmer and couldn't find a fight here, even if I wanted to...take care, billy fanstone.
P.S. On the running forums I had a friend that was like a replica of George. About the same age, lots of experience and stories to tell. He would tell us how it was in the 50s, 60s and so forth. He was keen and knew a lot about running and track and field. I actually met him at a marathon in Washington, D.C.
