Stroke Rate vs Stroke Length, which is more difficult?
Former Member
This topic may have been discussed in the past but a search gave too many hits. I am very interested by your comment and advices for the following real scenario. This is for kids but may be this could apply to masters. BTW, I am just a parent swimmer, very interested in swimming in general but unfortunately not a good enough swimmer.
Two age group swimmers (11-12 years old) coming from different swimming history have opposite swimming style:
Swimmer 1 (let's call the higher stroke rate swimmer) swims 50 meters freestyle, taking 60 strokes. Swimmer2 does it in 45 strokes, with a time 0.5 to 1 second slower.
In general, Swimmer1 beats Swimmer2 in all distances (freestyle and back). Including a 2000 meter freestyle test set, faster by about 20 seconds. In this particular 2000m, aside the time and stroke rate, Swimmer2 (slower stroke rate) did it with even splits while Swimmer1 positive splits toward the last 25% of the distance.
Q1. Assuming two swimmers have similar aerobic conditions, which one will have better margin of progression? More exactly, would it be "easier" for Swimmer1 to improve the technique or for Swimmer2 to improve the Stroke Rate?
Q2. What would you recommend to these swimmers to get better?
To these two swimmers, stroke rate seems to be the winning bet. Swimmer2 was taught with a focus on excellent technique (and indeed looks better in the water), but is confused as this skill doesn't translate into better performance.
Of course, we are talking about SL and SR relative to a context where the swimmers already know about swimming.
Thanks you in advance for your help.
Parents
Former Member
Zirconium,
Even though I may incorporate a higher SR when I have to, I'd sure prefer not to. I don't like paying for the high-intensity at all; I'd rather swim medium speed with low SPL. Even with doing this, my heartrate is higher than I'd like it to be.
I don't know for sure what "substitute catch-up style by kayak version" is so I cannot comment.
But shortening the end push and reducing body roll would help to increase SR. And, I don't know about windmill faster either unless you are talking about turnover rate. If it is turnover rate, I'd sure have to say it has to increase. But to also achieve a higher turnover rate, I generally have to shorten everything up substantially.
What's interesting about this is I swam today and timed some things. They were an eye-opener.
I swam in a 33-1/3 yd pool. The following are some stats I came away with. I swam one length at a time.
EZ Length: 16 SPL, 20 seconds
FAST Length: 16 SPL, 17 seconds
Length split up in: 6 strokes EZ, 6 strokes Fast, 6 strokes EZ: SPL was 18; time was 19 seconds.
So even though I am moderately confused about that last set (where'd that 18 come from), it appears to me that I don't want to be a sprinter and my body seems to agree. The FAST length really hurt, but I am not used to sprinting so that may be part of it. And obviously I did not shorten up my stroke on the FAST length.
I did this set 8 times with about 30-45 seconds rest inbetween. Nothing ever changed.
Donna
Zirconium,
Even though I may incorporate a higher SR when I have to, I'd sure prefer not to. I don't like paying for the high-intensity at all; I'd rather swim medium speed with low SPL. Even with doing this, my heartrate is higher than I'd like it to be.
I don't know for sure what "substitute catch-up style by kayak version" is so I cannot comment.
But shortening the end push and reducing body roll would help to increase SR. And, I don't know about windmill faster either unless you are talking about turnover rate. If it is turnover rate, I'd sure have to say it has to increase. But to also achieve a higher turnover rate, I generally have to shorten everything up substantially.
What's interesting about this is I swam today and timed some things. They were an eye-opener.
I swam in a 33-1/3 yd pool. The following are some stats I came away with. I swam one length at a time.
EZ Length: 16 SPL, 20 seconds
FAST Length: 16 SPL, 17 seconds
Length split up in: 6 strokes EZ, 6 strokes Fast, 6 strokes EZ: SPL was 18; time was 19 seconds.
So even though I am moderately confused about that last set (where'd that 18 come from), it appears to me that I don't want to be a sprinter and my body seems to agree. The FAST length really hurt, but I am not used to sprinting so that may be part of it. And obviously I did not shorten up my stroke on the FAST length.
I did this set 8 times with about 30-45 seconds rest inbetween. Nothing ever changed.
Donna
