Hi everyone! I wanted to pass along some of my experiences/observations of those new swimmers using T.I. I am working with a group of triathletes who had no coaching whatsoever and purchased this swim book to try to improve their swimming.
I know it can be difficult to try to learn from a book as interpretation is different for everyone. Here are two common problems I'm finding that I think should (if at all possible) be addressed by the author/TI swim instructors for further clarification.
1. Mail Slot Entry
All of the swimmers' hand/arm entry is actually an inverted "V". The hand/forearm enter the water as a downward spear right by their ear. There is no catch whatsoever because the stroke is so short. The hand goes directly downward from the ear to the pool bottom; the stroke is of no use this way because there is no catch whatsoever.
2. Low in the water
They are all too low in the water. Their heads and shoulders are completely underwater so they have to roll too much and too far to get a breath of air. This is causing "fishtailing" and a tremendous amount of body movement. I understand "chest pressing" in the water, but they have taken it too far.
I have always firmly believed in each person's stroke being "their own", but there are some components that are necessary to swim well. I'm helping them to make some of these corrections, especially regarding the mail slot entry; they are "spearing" downward which I don't believe was the point. Most all of the triathletes swim a 50 meter free in around 2 minutes. Last Sunday with some changes (they are really working on their swimming), 4 of them were swimming the 50 meter free in around 45 to 50 seconds which is a huge improvement. They said it feels better now, and they are traveling faster with less body movement and with ease.
I know the TI book has helped many to join the world of swimming, but this indicates that without coaching, a book can be misinterpreted. A picture is worth a thousand words. One last point: ALL of them were holding their breath which is the kiss of death. I never bought this book so I cannot attest to what was explained in verse or graphics.
Donna
Here’s my take on TI. I am a relatively new swimmer. I began swimming when I was 48, and this is my 8th year of swimming. When I started, I didn’t have any prior swimming background other than the Red Cross swimming lessons as a kid and occasional recreational swimming. I started swimming to lose weight, get in shape, and have fun. I attained my goals and am still having fun. (in fact, I’m having a blast!) Somewhere, about 2-3 years after I began swimming, the competitive bug bit me and I decided I wanted to do some meets and see how fast I could swim. I set a goal of swimming a 100 yard free under 1:00. I found some clinics offered by a Masters coach and after attending some of these made an arrangement with her for private coaching. Although not a TI coach, her philosophy included most of the concepts contained in the TI books. I had these and the freestyle video at the time. Often, I see other swimmers doing the drills, and IMO, very few are doing them correctly.
So, a couple of observations:
1. TI is not something new or unique. It is simply techniques and methods that have been re-packaged and taught under the TI name.
2. Without attending a clinic to learn the drills and/or the hands on teaching of a coach, the drills may be done incorrectly and are of no real benefit to the swimmer using them.
Now I am not a very fast swimmer by comparison to others of you that have the age group-high school-college background. But I did attain my goal for the 100 free (and mid 26 for the 50), and using the TI concepts, learned fly and can do a 50 in less than :30 (around 1:15 for 100, needs more work). I also used the concepts for backstroke and swim a 50 in the low 32’s (around 1:13 for 100). (breaststroke? - maybe someday) I’ve never seen any great results in the longer distances because I don’t train that hard. I train alone and don’t (won’t) push myself into major pain. But I’ve done some of the postal distance events and some open water swims and can hold around 1:30 per 100 pace for over an hour. When I first started, I couldn’t do an all out 100 at that pace. Additionally, I swam SCY Nationals last year for the first time and I made the qualifying times in 5 of the 6 events I swam.
There is a lot of controversy surrounding TI, but my opinion is that it is great for a new swimmer like I was. I also think it is subject to a lot of misinterpretation and misuse by new swimmers unless they have the guidance of a coach and so a lot of new swimmers (and it seems most of these are triathletes) that are using the TI methods are not swimming as well or as fast as they could be.
Here’s my take on TI. I am a relatively new swimmer. I began swimming when I was 48, and this is my 8th year of swimming. When I started, I didn’t have any prior swimming background other than the Red Cross swimming lessons as a kid and occasional recreational swimming. I started swimming to lose weight, get in shape, and have fun. I attained my goals and am still having fun. (in fact, I’m having a blast!) Somewhere, about 2-3 years after I began swimming, the competitive bug bit me and I decided I wanted to do some meets and see how fast I could swim. I set a goal of swimming a 100 yard free under 1:00. I found some clinics offered by a Masters coach and after attending some of these made an arrangement with her for private coaching. Although not a TI coach, her philosophy included most of the concepts contained in the TI books. I had these and the freestyle video at the time. Often, I see other swimmers doing the drills, and IMO, very few are doing them correctly.
So, a couple of observations:
1. TI is not something new or unique. It is simply techniques and methods that have been re-packaged and taught under the TI name.
2. Without attending a clinic to learn the drills and/or the hands on teaching of a coach, the drills may be done incorrectly and are of no real benefit to the swimmer using them.
Now I am not a very fast swimmer by comparison to others of you that have the age group-high school-college background. But I did attain my goal for the 100 free (and mid 26 for the 50), and using the TI concepts, learned fly and can do a 50 in less than :30 (around 1:15 for 100, needs more work). I also used the concepts for backstroke and swim a 50 in the low 32’s (around 1:13 for 100). (breaststroke? - maybe someday) I’ve never seen any great results in the longer distances because I don’t train that hard. I train alone and don’t (won’t) push myself into major pain. But I’ve done some of the postal distance events and some open water swims and can hold around 1:30 per 100 pace for over an hour. When I first started, I couldn’t do an all out 100 at that pace. Additionally, I swam SCY Nationals last year for the first time and I made the qualifying times in 5 of the 6 events I swam.
There is a lot of controversy surrounding TI, but my opinion is that it is great for a new swimmer like I was. I also think it is subject to a lot of misinterpretation and misuse by new swimmers unless they have the guidance of a coach and so a lot of new swimmers (and it seems most of these are triathletes) that are using the TI methods are not swimming as well or as fast as they could be.
