I have been reading and watching posts and replies, on the General forum, as well as Coaching forum, that seem to dismiss the importance of having developed triceps. I may be wrong, but what I surmised is that even though having a longer stroke is of great importance (and I am an advocate of a longer sroke depending upon the distance and actual stroke being swum), that many people including Kaizen making statements that a long stroke is better, there is much conclusion that "finishing" the stroke lower on the leg has several problems: 1) it takes tricep strength so avoid it and 2) finishing shorter and closer to the waist area is the way to go.
Now granted, a 50 free sprint probably needs a lesser SPL than a 200 or 400, but my concern in this topic is that there may be a message to other swimmers that finishing later on the body requires more strength in the back of the arm (triceps) so avoid it. My Word: Wrong!!
Every great, great swimmer I have ever seen has the arms of Hercules, both in biceps, shoulders and triceps. And even at my older age and a fatter body, the one remaining muscle group that is ripped is the triceps on my arms because they have been trained over years and carry me through even now. Having these great muscles developed continues to aid in my powerfully finishing my stroke and setting up for the next one. Triceps DO provide propulsion in the stroke finish/recovery portion of the stroke, so making sure they are developed, as well as other components of your body, is extremely important. Just one swimmer's point of view....and open for discussion.....
donna
Parents
Former Member
When your arm is anchored in the water, your lats help you get your body over it. The triceps seem to come in at the back end of the pull while the lats are used throughout.
First of all....Nice thread Donna!
I try and focus a lot on both lats and tricepts in the weight room for exactly this reason Nancy....but I've also been told that its a good idea to do a well rounded weight regiment that includes the shoulders, chest, tricepts, lats, and even some bicepts in order to maintain a certain muscle balance. Without the right balance of muscle groups working together you could be more prone to injury (or at least thats what I've been told that is??). So I put most of my upperbody focus on lats, tricepts, and abs / back....and I mix in a sufficient amount of military press, bench press, and curls as well. I also do a few other exercises that combine several of these muscle groups as well.
Newmastersswimmer.
p.s. If your tricepts are anything like your bicepts Fort (Ala the pic you showed me of your gun) then I would have to say that your tricepts must be pretty strong then LOL!
When your arm is anchored in the water, your lats help you get your body over it. The triceps seem to come in at the back end of the pull while the lats are used throughout.
First of all....Nice thread Donna!
I try and focus a lot on both lats and tricepts in the weight room for exactly this reason Nancy....but I've also been told that its a good idea to do a well rounded weight regiment that includes the shoulders, chest, tricepts, lats, and even some bicepts in order to maintain a certain muscle balance. Without the right balance of muscle groups working together you could be more prone to injury (or at least thats what I've been told that is??). So I put most of my upperbody focus on lats, tricepts, and abs / back....and I mix in a sufficient amount of military press, bench press, and curls as well. I also do a few other exercises that combine several of these muscle groups as well.
Newmastersswimmer.
p.s. If your tricepts are anything like your bicepts Fort (Ala the pic you showed me of your gun) then I would have to say that your tricepts must be pretty strong then LOL!
