Best starting block position: left foot forward or right foot?
Former Member
I remember when my friend taught me how to water ski. He told me to stand feet together and then he pushed me. Instinctively my left foot shot out to steady myself. He said that is the foot that should be in front on the slalom ski.
What is the thinking on the starting block position? Which foot should be in front?
Syd
Parents
Former Member
So many options! And only a week to go. I hear what you are saying Allen: you should practice them all the time. It is just that the pool I train at doesn't even allow diving off the side (although I sneak one in every now and then) let alone diving off blocks.
This time I think I might just go for both feet in front, arms hanging loose and concentrate on entering the water in one hole. It is the best I can do in such a short space of time. Then, after the meet, start trying out everyones' suggestions.
George, thanks for those video clips. I downloaded them all. It seemed like the majority of swimmers had their right foots forward. Significant?
As an aside check out Michael Klim's flip turn video (at the link George provided). It is quite awesome. He SDKs on his back off the wall, then on his side and then on his tummy. It looked like one of those drill videos. He was still SDKing and the other swimmers had already taken 4 strokes.
Syd
So many options! And only a week to go. I hear what you are saying Allen: you should practice them all the time. It is just that the pool I train at doesn't even allow diving off the side (although I sneak one in every now and then) let alone diving off blocks.
This time I think I might just go for both feet in front, arms hanging loose and concentrate on entering the water in one hole. It is the best I can do in such a short space of time. Then, after the meet, start trying out everyones' suggestions.
George, thanks for those video clips. I downloaded them all. It seemed like the majority of swimmers had their right foots forward. Significant?
As an aside check out Michael Klim's flip turn video (at the link George provided). It is quite awesome. He SDKs on his back off the wall, then on his side and then on his tummy. It looked like one of those drill videos. He was still SDKing and the other swimmers had already taken 4 strokes.
Syd
