Vanderkaay a freestyle expert shares his methods on how he is able to master the freestyle in both long and short distances. Get the inside scoop from Olympian Vanderkaay below:
www.universalsports.com/ViewArticle.dbml
PVK mentions the importance of a hip driven stroke in distance freestyle. Can anyone put into words the concept of the hip driven distance freestyle? I know I should be rotating the hips more, but I am not sure what I need to do to have the stroke driven from the hips. What does it look like/feel like?
Good article, but I "snuck over" to the one on Knutson. Impressive.
are you talking about this ?:
www.washingtonpost.com/.../AR2009030303239.html
amazing stuff... Wake-up early at minus 30 degree and drop into the pool before going to school... unbelievable commit.:bow:
Glenn,
You may want to discount any advice from me re distance freestyle, but I saw a really good video where the swimmers were using a center mount snorkle (Finis) and doing one length of right arm only, one length of left arm only and then combined stroke. The non-swimming arm should be at your side. The object was to initiate the the hip drive (downward) instantaneously prior to the other arm catch. Instead of working on the up portion of the hip roll, the concentration/timing sequence was was on the down hip motion. I've tried it and once you're used to this timing if feels great. In the past I always concentrated on coordinating my upward hip roll with my arm recovery on the same side. If I can remember to do it, I think the new way is better
Rich
Rich,
Thanks, I'll try it. When I roll the hips (such as they are), I usually concentrate on the catch side. I have not like you, concentrated on the recovery side. I may try THAT just to see what it feels like. Still, what you are saying is that hip driven means hip roll - is that correct?
Geochuck,
Explain a little more what you mean by toe driven.
Hip driven, I once read it was the big toe driven stroke. Not, the rotation of the shoulders or the hip rotation.
PVK mentions the importance of a hip driven stroke in distance freestyle. Can anyone put into words the concept of the hip driven distance freestyle? I know I should be rotating the hips more, but I am not sure what I need to do to have the stroke driven from the hips. What does it look like/feel like?
Glenn, the foot controls the body roll I threw in the big toe as a pun (although a big name coach said the big toe controls the body roll). We practice a kick drill, kicking on the side. Right side down right hand extended to the front left hand at the thigh 4 kicks. Then pull right hand down to the thigh and the left hand recovers as an above water stroke and extends to the front. 4 more kicks aiming all the kicks at the wall, not at the bottom of the pool.
I saw a drill that was supposed to help you snap your hips from side to side both for free and for backstroke. You put a kickboard between your legs the skinny way (so a lot sticks up above and below you and the length is kind of from your crotch to your knees; chlorine degrosses all things! I hope), and then you swim and rotate your hips while holding the kickboard between your legs.
I found it a little hard to keep the kickboard between my legs; I had to press hard with my knees, so I could only do a few lengths.
I've been told I over-rotate my hips so I'm not sure I should do this drill, but I like to try new things, and this was kind of fun. Good luck!
