So many swimmers use different styles in getting off those starting blocks. Which are you? The Racing Start start, or the standard, feet together start?
And why do you use what you do? Any pluses? And, any tips for keeping those goggles on?
Donna
For years, I was strictly racing start mostly b/c thats how i learned in summer league, where we dive off the side of the pool (no blocks). about three years ago, i switched to the two footed fury. I have some pretty powerful thighs, soccer related, probably genetic, and wanted to take advantage of the huge leap I could get off the blocks. Well, it was about that time that I also started winning the award for "slowest off the blocks."
So this year, I switched back to racing starts about a week before SCY Nats. I figured out I needed to get up on the block fast, get positioned and leaning a bit at the ready, and then could explode off the block at the gun. I don't really feel like I have lost any power or speed. I am now not the slowest off anymore, and my times made some major improvements.
I will say doing the racing start is a lot easier if the pool has long blocks like Stanford did for Worlds. Those things worked awesome for my start!
As for the goggles, mine are fairly snug, good nosepiece, and under a cap, though the current state of my mop might hold them in place pretty well too.
For years, I was strictly racing start mostly b/c thats how i learned in summer league, where we dive off the side of the pool (no blocks). about three years ago, i switched to the two footed fury. I have some pretty powerful thighs, soccer related, probably genetic, and wanted to take advantage of the huge leap I could get off the blocks. Well, it was about that time that I also started winning the award for "slowest off the blocks."
So this year, I switched back to racing starts about a week before SCY Nats. I figured out I needed to get up on the block fast, get positioned and leaning a bit at the ready, and then could explode off the block at the gun. I don't really feel like I have lost any power or speed. I am now not the slowest off anymore, and my times made some major improvements.
I will say doing the racing start is a lot easier if the pool has long blocks like Stanford did for Worlds. Those things worked awesome for my start!
As for the goggles, mine are fairly snug, good nosepiece, and under a cap, though the current state of my mop might hold them in place pretty well too.
