PURPOSE:To assess the effect of adding a dolphin kick to a breaststroke pullout.
METHODS:Eleven (20.9±2.3 yrs, 1.86±0.05 m, 79.6±5.5 kg) swimmers experienced with performing traditional and dolphin kick breaststroke pullouts participated in the study. Underwater video analysis was used to track whole body center of mass kinematics during a pullout. Time for the center of mass to travel distances ranging from 2.5-4 m from the initiation of the pullout were computed. Hand force data were derived from differential pressure measurements during the pulling phase of the pullout.
RESULTS:Use of a dolphin kick in a breaststroke pullout significantly (p=0.016) improved performance. Time for the center of mass to travel 4m after the initiation of the pull was reduced by 0.19 s. This performance improvement was not attributable to enhanced force production from the pull. Hand force was not significantly different between pullout techniques for the right hand (p=0.142) nor left hand (p=0.303). Total impulse produced by the pull was reduced by 3.6% (p=0.039, ES=0.34) when using the dolphin kick pullout.
CONCLUSIONS:These data suggest that the use of a dolphin kick during a breaststroke pullout provides a significant advantage over the traditional no-dolphin kick pullout. Furthermore, this advantage comes from enhanced propulsion from the kick but not the pull.
It's the best thing that has ever happened to the stroke that was created to give drop out gymnasts and divers something to do!
I went 15 yds off the start with one dolphin kick not long ago...add flip turns into this supposed stroke and I might actually consider it being allowed into the real world of swimming!
PS; I tried to do a grab start and flip turn off the 3m boards the other day at ASU and was tossed out of the "workout"...why do we still allow these orphans lane space?
As much as I hate to admit, I am forced to swim the slowest of stokes on dreary days.
I never thought of doing a dolphin kick before my underwater pulldown till I read it here. So I gave it several shots.
Seems to me that it is faster than the one oomph I always give in the middle of the pull down. This is purely a subjective point of view, not one bit of fact to support my feelings.
My affinity for air is always a big issue with me. I gather a balance of speed vs. my love of oxygen will dictate my future.
The double dolphin is already happening. Check out the last turn in the men's A Final 100 *** from the UW v. Cal dual meet:
www.floswimming.org/.../77113
It's pretty obvious, even without Garrett calling it out. I don't know how the stroke & turn judge missed it.
Hmmm... I really couldn't see it and the judge was looking at another lane, so the judge must have missed it too...
I think the "it's hard to tell the difference between a kick and natural undulation" rationale for the rule change is an ex post facto justification for permitting something that was clearly illegal when we first noticed Kitajima doing it. And doing the dolphin kick at the initiation of the pull down is definitely the next step down the slippery slope. But we can certainly stop the slide at one kick, regardless of when it is done. If necessary, they should have a judge looking at an underwater camera at major competitions. At minor masters meets, nobody should get disqualified for this.
I enjoy doing the dolphin kick and don't want to revert to the "old" way (if you couldn't tell!).
The double dolphin is already happening. Check out the last turn in the men's A Final 100 *** from the UW v. Cal dual meet:
www.floswimming.org/.../77113
It's pretty obvious, even without Garrett calling it out. I don't know how the stroke & turn judge missed it.
...add flip turns into this supposed stroke and I might actually consider it being allowed into the real world of swimming!
The flip turns are a good idea, Paul. I think you should be able to switch to freestyle once you get within the flags! Heck, I say the same rule should apply to backstroke, too. :)
