Looking to get an idea of where I should be with regards to SPL (stroke per length) on my 50m sprints. Right now I'm at 17/23 for 50m but I know I need to get that down. I'm thinking that getting it down to about 14/18 without a reduction in speed would be optimum as I'm 6'3" with about a 6'6" wingspan. Does that stroke count sound reasonable?
Now how to do that?
Here's what I think I need to work on.
1) stronger kick
2) better underwater work at the start and turn
3) Work on becoming longer in the water, both stroke and body position.
4) swim downhill. I've been reviewing my 50m race from earlier this month and I'm still swimming too much uphill.
Any advice on drills would be helpful.
Paul
Guess I need to actually CON-CEN-TRATE on emphasizing proper technique in practice instead of just trying to survive the set without :drown:.
YEP!!!
My thoughts:
1) Stroke drills!!! Get these from coach, other swimmers, videos. If you're not doing at least 25% of practice time on drills, go do them on your own. You can't over drill but they have to be done correctly.
2) Work on streamline. IMO, this is the single easiest means of improving your stoke and time.
3) Work on kicking (without a board) on your stomach, side, and back. Free, fly, and back!
4) Integrate that into SDK! (steamlined dolphin kick) You have 15 meters before you have to actually start swimming in Bk, Fr, and Fly. But, SDK without maintaining speed is counter productive so work on kick first.
If you are taking 17/23 stokes per 50m, your stoke isn't very efficient. For someone your height and wingspan, 14/18 is certainly not unreasonable and with lots of work it could be lower than that. I'm 6' tall with a 6' wingspan and definitely NOT a freestyler but I'm about 11/12 in a SCY pool.
If you are swimming without proper technique you are just making the matter worse. Sometimes we have to do things we don't want to do in the short term to gain something we do want for the long term. My suggestion would be to work privately with your coach or other knowledgeable swimmer than focus on keeping that technique in practice. Our LMSC (spma.net) has a video lending library that you can rent videos from. They are great for drills and technique. Contact Julie Heather.
Hope that helps,
Allen
Guess I need to actually CON-CEN-TRATE on emphasizing proper technique in practice instead of just trying to survive the set without :drown:.
YEP!!!
My thoughts:
1) Stroke drills!!! Get these from coach, other swimmers, videos. If you're not doing at least 25% of practice time on drills, go do them on your own. You can't over drill but they have to be done correctly.
2) Work on streamline. IMO, this is the single easiest means of improving your stoke and time.
3) Work on kicking (without a board) on your stomach, side, and back. Free, fly, and back!
4) Integrate that into SDK! (steamlined dolphin kick) You have 15 meters before you have to actually start swimming in Bk, Fr, and Fly. But, SDK without maintaining speed is counter productive so work on kick first.
If you are taking 17/23 stokes per 50m, your stoke isn't very efficient. For someone your height and wingspan, 14/18 is certainly not unreasonable and with lots of work it could be lower than that. I'm 6' tall with a 6' wingspan and definitely NOT a freestyler but I'm about 11/12 in a SCY pool.
If you are swimming without proper technique you are just making the matter worse. Sometimes we have to do things we don't want to do in the short term to gain something we do want for the long term. My suggestion would be to work privately with your coach or other knowledgeable swimmer than focus on keeping that technique in practice. Our LMSC (spma.net) has a video lending library that you can rent videos from. They are great for drills and technique. Contact Julie Heather.
Hope that helps,
Allen
