Hi guys and gals!
I've been excited to see dramatic improvement in my middle school team (girls and boys) as I've emphasized and Early Vertical Forearm EVF) position vs. an extended, exaggerated and/or catch-up stroke. After the swimmer has attained the best streamlined position starting their stroke, I have preached about the importance of moving the hand (keeping it still with no bend or no more than a 12 degree bend) as it moves slowly (with pressure) under the elbow. I tell my swimmers to keep their hands outside the shoulders and not to scull toward the midline for many reasons. First, sculling too much is a common and very difficult flaw to correct. Second, sculling toward the mid-line too early is another difficult flaw to correct, Third, it's very easy to correct a swimmer who maintains a surfboard type pull throughout the entire pulling/pushing phase (never had one), and get them to pull toward the mid-line.
I do a lot of dryland drills static and isometric with elbows (varying in degrees) above the head. I've found them to be perfectly safe and the swimmers find them non-threating (no weights). As they get stronger, I'll introduce them to light therapy bands and 1/4lb weights.
Over forty years, and counting, of theories, strategies, and programs that stregthen pulling power. I'm one of many coaches who see that pushing the forearm ahead of the shoulder is an critical propulsive skill that has been sorely neglected by much of the swimming community. A great EVF isn't just a gift, - it can be and should be taught. Coach T.
Parents
Former Member
Can you effectively work on an EVF in the pool without all the static and isometric exercises? Will the RC exercises help on that score?
I haven't really focused on the EVF issue much, since I'm not really a freestyler, except for the occasional 50 or 100. However, whenever I've briefly tried EVF in practice on a sprint, it does seem to produce superior propulsion. And I don't think I'm doing it enough, although it's so hard to tell ... But I am also burdened with shoulder issues and very squeamish about putting any strain on the shoulder. Of course, I have read that a strong finish, and not just the catch, can strain the shoulder too.
So what is it exactly in freestyle that injures the shoulder? The catch? The finish? The straight arm pull? The straight arm recovery?
Why is it conventional wisdom that paddles will hurt your shoulder, but not the techpaddle?
Thanks guys for the input..I found a pair of forearm fulcrums locally,so I bought a pair..The techpaddle looks good too..I'm just a novice trying to improve my stroke so any training aid will probably help..I have weak shoulders too and have been working on them dryland for a year..A useful resource that I use is the Exrx muscle and exercise directory at www.exrx.net I click on weight training,then the directory..It shows muscles in red and exercises for all muscles..It seems to me that the straight arm pull is what makes the shoulders sore..pressure on the rotator cuff..I work cuff,delts,traps,legs,core,and back 3 times/week...I'm just experimenting with exs that will support this swim training cycle for 12 weeks..or more..
Thanks for the input..I read this site daily..It's a big help..
Edit: Thanks for the p/m Tomtopo...The forum would not accept a reply to it...FYI..
Can you effectively work on an EVF in the pool without all the static and isometric exercises? Will the RC exercises help on that score?
I haven't really focused on the EVF issue much, since I'm not really a freestyler, except for the occasional 50 or 100. However, whenever I've briefly tried EVF in practice on a sprint, it does seem to produce superior propulsion. And I don't think I'm doing it enough, although it's so hard to tell ... But I am also burdened with shoulder issues and very squeamish about putting any strain on the shoulder. Of course, I have read that a strong finish, and not just the catch, can strain the shoulder too.
So what is it exactly in freestyle that injures the shoulder? The catch? The finish? The straight arm pull? The straight arm recovery?
Why is it conventional wisdom that paddles will hurt your shoulder, but not the techpaddle?
Thanks guys for the input..I found a pair of forearm fulcrums locally,so I bought a pair..The techpaddle looks good too..I'm just a novice trying to improve my stroke so any training aid will probably help..I have weak shoulders too and have been working on them dryland for a year..A useful resource that I use is the Exrx muscle and exercise directory at www.exrx.net I click on weight training,then the directory..It shows muscles in red and exercises for all muscles..It seems to me that the straight arm pull is what makes the shoulders sore..pressure on the rotator cuff..I work cuff,delts,traps,legs,core,and back 3 times/week...I'm just experimenting with exs that will support this swim training cycle for 12 weeks..or more..
Thanks for the input..I read this site daily..It's a big help..
Edit: Thanks for the p/m Tomtopo...The forum would not accept a reply to it...FYI..
