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
.... i will often have a swimmer drive their hand straight down to demonstrate that the effect of good rotation is huge. the desired result is that they travel 25 yards with the same stroke count that they would if there was forward reach. this is usually a big "aha!" kind of moment.
Interesting! I tried this this morning and although I was only doing 25's and 50's the stroke count was the same as my normal stroke. I normally enter the water about halfway between my head and full extension and reach down to about 1:00 (assuming the water surface is at 12:00). This morning I moved the hand entry closer to my head and reached to the 2:00 position. (Tried 3:00 a few times but not comfortable with that and found my entry to be too splashy.) But I noticed that I needed to reach further out in front as I increased my speed from about :20 sec/25 to around :15 sec/25.
.... i will often have a swimmer drive their hand straight down to demonstrate that the effect of good rotation is huge. the desired result is that they travel 25 yards with the same stroke count that they would if there was forward reach. this is usually a big "aha!" kind of moment.
Interesting! I tried this this morning and although I was only doing 25's and 50's the stroke count was the same as my normal stroke. I normally enter the water about halfway between my head and full extension and reach down to about 1:00 (assuming the water surface is at 12:00). This morning I moved the hand entry closer to my head and reached to the 2:00 position. (Tried 3:00 a few times but not comfortable with that and found my entry to be too splashy.) But I noticed that I needed to reach further out in front as I increased my speed from about :20 sec/25 to around :15 sec/25.
