New LCM *** stroke WR:s age group 35-39...

While one can make some very basic generalizations about proper technique from watching elite swimmers in the water, I would be reluctant to say that any one particular stroke "type" is the best. For example, if you watch some of the very fast women breaststrokers swim, it appears that they are very much leg-driven, and that the arms generate relatively less propulsion. If you watch Kitajima swim - particularly a 200 - you will think that the key is to have a very long glide phase (watch a video of him next to almost anyone else, and count the number of (fewer) strokes he takes). This while swimming 2:08 for 200m(!). If you watch others, it will appear that the key is a much higher turnover rate, with little or no glide. The same holds true for "flatness" of a stroke. The men generally tend to look flatter (though the above videos belie this), and the women look more like they're rearing up and back. This may be because, relatively speaking, they do not generate the same lift from their pull as the men, and therefore need to use their backs more(?). I think the generalizations that one can apply are: - timing is everything - coordination of the kick with the pull is critical - the initial outsweep of the arms should not be too wide, and the hands should pitch inward and down fairly quickly - try to eliminate dead spots in the arm motion, and maintain acceleration throughout - a streamline phase (no matter how brief) is important - the kick should come relatively late in the stroke cycle, when the arms are almost forward - the kick should be relatively narrow - for the kick, the feet should be brought up, as opposed to the knees forward I had my stroke analyzed in Indy by Dr. G. After taping me, he asked me my times. I told him, and his jaw dropped. I confirmed that these were current times and not lifetime bests. My thoughts were, (1) he's amazed that I can swim this fast with such crap technique :censor: , and (2) I can swim a lot faster if I can successfully incorporate his recommendations. Only time will tell.

While one can make some very basic generalizations about proper technique from watching elite swimmers in the water, I would be reluctant to say that any one particular stroke "type" is the best. For example, if you watch some of the very fast women breaststrokers swim, it appears that they are very much leg-driven, and that the arms generate relatively less propulsion. If you watch Kitajima swim - particularly a 200 - you will think that the key is to have a very long glide phase (watch a video of him next to almost anyone else, and count the number of (fewer) strokes he takes). This while swimming 2:08 for 200m(!). If you watch others, it will appear that the key is a much higher turnover rate, with little or no glide. The same holds true for "flatness" of a stroke. The men generally tend to look flatter (though the above videos belie this), and the women look more like they're rearing up and back. This may be because, relatively speaking, they do not generate the same lift from their pull as the men, and therefore need to use their backs more(?). I think the generalizations that one can apply are: - timing is everything - coordination of the kick with the pull is critical - the initial outsweep of the arms should not be too wide, and the hands should pitch inward and down fairly quickly - try to eliminate dead spots in the arm motion, and maintain acceleration throughout - a streamline phase (no matter how brief) is important - the kick should come relatively late in the stroke cycle, when the arms are almost forward - the kick should be relatively narrow - for the kick, the feet should be brought up, as opposed to the knees forward I had my stroke analyzed in Indy by Dr. G. After taping me, he asked me my times. I told him, and his jaw dropped. I confirmed that these were current times and not lifetime bests. My thoughts were, (1) he's amazed that I can swim this fast with such crap technique :censor: , and (2) I can swim a lot faster if I can successfully incorporate his recommendations. Only time will tell.