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
I had one of the fastest freestyle starts in over 40 races; my response time was lightning speed and I don't think it was because of my foot placement; it was my body's reaction time to a gun sound, and with both legs driving off the blocks, I always was a half-body length ahead of everyone when we surfaced.
I bet you were one of those kids that were good at arcade games! ;) Me, I never was. My reaction time was always clumsily slow. Even more worryingly I have to wear an earplug in my right ear because of ear problems and I wonder if that is not going to exacerbate the situation.
But in my favorite stroke, backstroke, I had to struggle with that same situation; my response time was less and I never figured it out. Thus, I was usually a back-half swimmer who came from behind, over and over again.
Donna
That is interesting and suggests something wrong with your technique, especially considering your reaction time in the block start is so good.
Syd
I had one of the fastest freestyle starts in over 40 races; my response time was lightning speed and I don't think it was because of my foot placement; it was my body's reaction time to a gun sound, and with both legs driving off the blocks, I always was a half-body length ahead of everyone when we surfaced.
I bet you were one of those kids that were good at arcade games! ;) Me, I never was. My reaction time was always clumsily slow. Even more worryingly I have to wear an earplug in my right ear because of ear problems and I wonder if that is not going to exacerbate the situation.
But in my favorite stroke, backstroke, I had to struggle with that same situation; my response time was less and I never figured it out. Thus, I was usually a back-half swimmer who came from behind, over and over again.
Donna
That is interesting and suggests something wrong with your technique, especially considering your reaction time in the block start is so good.
Syd
