I come away with a lot of great stuff from clinics. Here's one that was a eye opener. A vessel (swimmer's body, legs) that doubles it's depth requires eight times the force to maintain the same velocity. So, big kicks vs. small kicks, a low body position vs. one that's up, makes a difference. I'm sure you guys knew that but I thought the 8x thing was great.
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Former Member
I come away with a lot of great stuff from clinics. Here's one that was a eye opener. A vessel (swimmer's body, legs) that doubles it's depth requires eight times the force to maintain the same velocity. So, big kicks vs. small kicks, a low body position vs. one that's up, makes a difference. I'm sure you guys knew that but I thought the 8x thing was great.
Well there are few variables that need to be taken into account though. A low body position requires more force to maintain the same velocity, but if the kick required to raise the body requires even more energy then the net result of the equation may be increased energy expenditure to maintain same velocity.
All that being said, as a rule of thumb, 2 things: 1) Relatively deep under the surface, you find less turbulence therefore some breaststrokers still like to sink relatively deep. 2) the water line isn't a good place to swim. Better be either over the waterline (like you say be elevating the body) or under the waterline (breaststrokers, dolphin kickers etc).
By the way I remember having learned (throughout my coaching certification path) that water was 160 times more dense than air. I later tried to find more evidence of this I couldn't. If anyone can shed some light, confirm true or false...
I come away with a lot of great stuff from clinics. Here's one that was a eye opener. A vessel (swimmer's body, legs) that doubles it's depth requires eight times the force to maintain the same velocity. So, big kicks vs. small kicks, a low body position vs. one that's up, makes a difference. I'm sure you guys knew that but I thought the 8x thing was great.
Well there are few variables that need to be taken into account though. A low body position requires more force to maintain the same velocity, but if the kick required to raise the body requires even more energy then the net result of the equation may be increased energy expenditure to maintain same velocity.
All that being said, as a rule of thumb, 2 things: 1) Relatively deep under the surface, you find less turbulence therefore some breaststrokers still like to sink relatively deep. 2) the water line isn't a good place to swim. Better be either over the waterline (like you say be elevating the body) or under the waterline (breaststrokers, dolphin kickers etc).
By the way I remember having learned (throughout my coaching certification path) that water was 160 times more dense than air. I later tried to find more evidence of this I couldn't. If anyone can shed some light, confirm true or false...