How do you prevent sacrificing stroke length when you increase stroke rate?
Former Member
Through recent trainings, I think I have been able to increase my stroke length. I can tell this by the hissing sound getting louder that I hear when I pull, as well as the number of strokes per yard. :laugh2:
But when I try to increase the stroke rate as well, this time my stroke length suffers and the overall speed doesn't get as much boost from my recently increased stroke length.
Is it because I am not executing the stroke technique in exactly the same manner when I'm sprinting as when I am just cruising? Or are there other things to watch out when I sprint?
Parents
Former Member
What you wish to find is the optimal combination of strokes and time (fewest strokes and fastest time). In college, we would do a set of, say, 10x 50's freestyle on 1:00, trying to cut the total combination of strokes plus time each swim.
What you find when doing so is that it helps to be very efficient off the start/turns (streamline, dolphin/flutter kick) and to be very powerful in the back half of each stroke ("finishing your strokes"). If you finish each stroke, you'll find that stroke rate is a factor of your strength...
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Former Member
What you wish to find is the optimal combination of strokes and time (fewest strokes and fastest time). In college, we would do a set of, say, 10x 50's freestyle on 1:00, trying to cut the total combination of strokes plus time each swim.
What you find when doing so is that it helps to be very efficient off the start/turns (streamline, dolphin/flutter kick) and to be very powerful in the back half of each stroke ("finishing your strokes"). If you finish each stroke, you'll find that stroke rate is a factor of your strength...
