Everyone who watched coverage of the World Championships this year no doubt noticed Michael Phelps new distinct lope in his freestyle. I know a lot of other swimmers do this too, and their freaking fast, so this morning I asked my coach about it. She looked at me quizzically and said it's a very bad habit to have and if you don't do it naturally just forget about it.
But, Phelps didn't have this very obvious lope up to now, and he just broke 5 world records with it. So it doesn't seem like it can be that bad. I'm not to prove my coach wrong, I'm just curious.
So if anybody knows anything, please share. Why does it make some fast and for others it could be considered a bad habit? What's the trick to learning it? If it is a bad habit, why did Phelps bother to pronounce it?
Parents
Former Member
The biggest "loper" is not Phelps but Lezak. And he's always been that way.
Took the words right out my key board. He literally hammers the water...hard to one side. It's a very distinct rhythm.
He went 46 for the 100 meter free (short course)...with a breath every stroke...and a flutter kick of fury the whole way...especially off the walls (no dolphin). He's a virtual wrecking machine.
That said...a lope is very normal. And it appears to be a natural rhythm which helps build momentum during the arm cycle.
Janet Evans has an obvious hitch in her stroke as she pounded her way through the long distance races.
From above water this looks sloppy. But she's moving!
www.youtube.com/watch
The biggest "loper" is not Phelps but Lezak. And he's always been that way.
Took the words right out my key board. He literally hammers the water...hard to one side. It's a very distinct rhythm.
He went 46 for the 100 meter free (short course)...with a breath every stroke...and a flutter kick of fury the whole way...especially off the walls (no dolphin). He's a virtual wrecking machine.
That said...a lope is very normal. And it appears to be a natural rhythm which helps build momentum during the arm cycle.
Janet Evans has an obvious hitch in her stroke as she pounded her way through the long distance races.
From above water this looks sloppy. But she's moving!
www.youtube.com/watch
