I have been studying videos of swimmers and find what was once called the "S" stroke has almost disappeard.
I have noticed that flyers use it. But crawl swimmers have modified it so much that it is almost gone.
Has it been replaced completely or was it an optical illusion? Did underwater film show us it did not exist.
GP, I dont know if this is an older term, or if I know it by something else. Could you perhaps explain in a bit more detail what is this "S" stroke? I don't believe I've ever heard of it.
I reviewed a video on swimming freestyle with Eddie Reese a year ago or so for our LMSC's newsletter insert to the USMS Swimmer magazine. I remember Reese saying that the "S" pattern is more of a wiggle today than the old "S" we were taught. So yes, Geochuck, you have observed correctly that it's use is not as prevelant as it used to be. I have changed my stroke so that I am doing more of a wiggle and not a giant sweep in toward the body.
As I understand it,Councilman first observed that many world class swimmers where using and S shaped pull in free and fly. He variously hypothesized that it was to be more in still water and to increase lift propulsion.In an effort to generate more lift propulsion the S became exaggerated.then the Australians begin having success with a straighter pull and emphasizing EVF.Many coaches began to think that drag was more important than lift for propulsion so the S is phasing out.As to the underlying question about lift vs drag,as far as i know the definitive studies have not been done.
Sculling or the "S" in swimming is important to peak swimming efficiency but it's been over-used and over-taught. It's important because the movement of the hand toward and away from the mid-line of the body allows the hand to move into still water (non-turbulent) and away from turbulent water (created by moving forward and by the hand itself). Keeping the hand moving through still water helps the hand leverage water (increases resistance or drag).
I'm not sure I buy this. After all, we know that swimming in turbulent water (i.e., another swimmer's wake) actually makes you swim faster, so why should you want your hand to always be in still water? My gut feeling is the s stroke is more the result of biomechanics in that it allows the hand to be at its optimal angle of attack with respect to the water for as long as possible as the rest of the body rotates throughout the stroke.
Now are we saying the S stroke is an optical illusion?
No, as Terry said the swimmers didn't realize their hands were actually following an "S." They thought they were pulling straight, but the film showed a curved pattern to the pull. After discovering this, many coaches taught their swimmers to intentionally follow an S and this resulted in an exaggerated S.
Kirk,you are right that you can move your hand through moving water faster than still water,but you will not generate as much thrust.The moving water provides less purchase to push against.It's like climbing a rope that is run through a pulley instead of fastened to a fixed point.You might be able to move the rope fast,but you couldn't climb it.
I believe what he is referring to is a stroke where instead of pulling straight back, you pull out at the catch, then back in towards your body, and then back out to finish, thereby making an S with your arm. I think someone discovered that it was somehow quicker, I think it was through analysis of sea turtles. From what I saw at my brief look at butterfly swimmers is that they use more of a V stroke than a true S, I wouldn't be surprised if this has something to do with hand position as they exit the water.
remember the good ol' key hole part of the freestyle pull--the underwater pull portion of freestyle that they use to teach. Last year was the first year that someone mentioned to me that that was an expired practice. Now apparently it is believed that a straight pull underwater is more effective.
Thanks for your responses, I am a little late coming back to answer or reply today. Chuckie and I are baby sitting our grandson. He insists on high 5ing me every few minutes.
When Councilman described it it was a very aggresive huge "S". I was a bent arm swimmer and did not do these major swing out swing in and out again things. Lot's of people interpreted the "S" as moving the hand and forearm position into be in fresh water. Not really grabbing and holding the water.
The reason I brought this subject up, I was at the pool the other day and watched the swim coach doing some stroke correction. He was teaching an exaggerated form of the "S" Stroke which to me is a no, no. I really had to hold my big mouth shut.
