I've never seen (underwater video) a catch-up stroke used in freestyle in any meet. I've seen more of a mirror stroke pattern than catch-up. I've been told that during the 800 meter free, Ian Thorpe used a modified catch up but when I look at frame by frame I don't see it. I'm confused when I look at the webstie below that tells me that the catch-up stroke is the way freestyle should be done. Tell me what you think. Coach T.
windnseaswim.com/catchup2.html
No one truly uses a catch-up stroke when racing, but lots of elite swimmer use a front quadrant stroke. The videos I've seen of Hackett vs. Thorpe in the 800 free (2001 Worlds?) clearly show both swimmers doing a very front-quadrant type stroke.
edit: here's a youtube link It's especially evident in the quick overhead shot.
Larsen Jensen also has a stroke that is very close to a "catch-up." He's the first swimmer shown in this clip.
Interesting. We just did a drill this morning where we were supposed to concentrate on the reach with one arm (the other skulling), then pull out the same way we reach in (so the pull doesn't generate any forward motion). It was really tough, and requires a strong kick to get anywhere.
Not necessarily. Not everyone uses a six-beat kick. Contrast the kicks between these two swimmers: youtube.com/watch
The woman using the two-beat kick is Laure Manaudou and she's the world record holder in the 200 and 400 meter freestyles.
I didn't say it was better, but it obviously works for her. The point is there is no one correct way to swim. Kicking techniques vary. Some people will even change their kick depending on the length of the race (e.g., they might use a six-beat for events 200 meters and under, but switch to a two-beat for longer swims).
What a good video, what a good style. Thanks a lot Kirk. In front quadrant swimming, coaches focus on the reach part of the stroke. They do not care about the last phase of the stroke (push). But when I analyse the stroke of the best freestylers, they do both (reach and push) very well.
So what is special about her two beat kick that is better than others who have a six beat kick?
I recently switched from a flutter kick to a 2 beat kick. I have noticed that I am actually faster with a 2 beat kick, even in sprints. 2 Beat kick conserves energy and I think my technique is better with a 2 beat kick because I am able to get better axis rotation.
Looking at the clip with Laure, you will notice that her cadence is faster then the 6 beat kicker, but her reach and rotation is better then the 6 beat kicker.
Now, having said that, I'm not suggesting that 6 beat kickers don't have excellent rotation and reach, I just know that for me, I do, and apparently so does Laure. Of course, that is where the similarities end. Put Laure in double slow-mo and that would be me! :laugh2:
This may or may not be an underwater video of the catch up stroke???
I can't really tell. It's kind of going too fast for me to get a good look. Is there a way to step frame-by-frame through a YouTube clip?
Skip Montanaro
