Freestyle Critique Please

RE: Freestyle Critique Please

Former Member — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 17:14:32 GMT

Your dive looked different than the rest, but you were the furthest out. Check out the pic, looks like you were about to land in the bleachers:afraid: Yeah, a dive I picked up in high school. For some reason all the sprinters did it. Basically a staggered start, pull hard with your arms off the block, throw your head and body up and out for maximum height and distance, then bring your arms forward and head down at the last moment to enter the water. Seems to get me a nice lead off the blocks--maybe it's my imagination though :) Cocah T., I will see what I can do about underwater footage. I don't have access to a waterproof camera but maybe I can scare one up at a meet or something. High stroke count at the end is likely in direct correlation to my conditioning level although there is assuredly room for improvement in the underwater pull itself.

RE: Freestyle Critique Please

Former Member — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 07:34:22 GMT

Over 20 strokes in 15 seconds tells me that you're not very efficient under the water but without an underwater video we don't know why. Get us some underwater video and we could tell you a lot more. What you do on top of the water isn't nearly as important as what you do under it. Give us some more information about your goals and that will also be helpful. Good luck, Coach T.

RE: Freestyle Critique Please

Former Member — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 06:49:39 GMT

Yes good point. Something I need to incorporate into my workouts--dps drills. Even better, golf. During sets of 50s, keep track of your time and your stroke count, and try to lower the combined number. Of course, I never remember this when I am IN the water...

RE: Freestyle Critique Please

__steve__ — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 06:21:23 GMT

Your dive looked different than the rest, but you were the furthest out. Check out the pic, looks like you were about to land in the bleachers:afraid:

RE: Freestyle Critique Please

Former Member — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 06:08:44 GMT

I would say strive to lower your stroke count by one or two. 18 is good, but 16 would be better. Yes good point. Something I need to incorporate into my workouts--dps drills.

RE: Freestyle Critique Please

Former Member — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 15:22:41 GMT

You went up on the start, not out, and easily got more air than anyone else off the blocks. The first second of your start is chopped, but your hands go back after the beep (don't know why), but I am pretty sure you want that missing second to be a pulled down with the arms to **** the legs before blasting the arms forward and launching yourself in the direction you are throwing your arms. This should get you a little further a little faster and transfer more force forward instead of down once you are in the water. Your third 25 looked like you were struggling (comparatively). Your kick dropped off and it looked like your turnover suffered as well. On your first turn, your head was up off the wall. This probably cost you at least a yard. A free yard at that. If you head is up, your back is arched, which will cause you to pop straight to the surface and slow your speed off the wall quicker. Experiment with your head position. You are trying to maintain momentum off the walls. Did you breath to the left off the wall? Looks like you are breathing every 3rd, and your first breath was your second stroke off the wall. "Don't breathe inside the flags" is kinda dumb. If breathing into a turn will get you a couple more strokes off the wall without breathing, do it. Going into the wall your momentum is based on how fast you can swim. Coming off the wall, your momentum is based on how hard you can push off the wall, which is usually much faster than you can swim. Maintain that that momentum as long as possible, which means not breathing as long as possible off the walls. But it was your first wall in a 100sc, don't breathe inside the flags :) I think all your turns were very consistent. Your finish was chopped, but I think it was a good decision once you were inside the flags. If you could have lengthened your stroke just a little 10-12 yards from the finish, I think you could have saved that last stroke and had a better lunge to the wall. Instead there was no lunge, because you were already on the wall. It looked like a very nice swim overall. You were getting good dps, had a solid kick for 75% of the race and a nice turn over.

RE: Freestyle Critique Please

Former Member — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 13:57:33 GMT

Your head position appears to be a little bit too high and your head seems to wobble a bit. Your approach into the turns looks good. You may want to get a little work on getting a little farther off each wall before popping up to swim. This will save you a stroke or 2, which will help prevent you from slowing down at the end of races.

RE: Freestyle Critique Please

Former Member — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 13:41:24 GMT

Astute observation about my 3rd 25 as I was not in the best shape for this meet and was following a 100 free strategy listed on the forum. Namely stretching out the 3rd 25 for dps on a high cruise setting and then coming back hard on the last 25. If that was your strategy, I am impressed, you pulled it off very well. You wanted criticism, so I provided it, but your swim was very good overall. I am glad to hear that you were happy with it. At two days a week, I would have been thrilled with it, but you probably have a different background than I do.

RE: Freestyle Critique Please

Former Member — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 13:39:09 GMT

Looks pretty good to me! Your stroke count was sound. Body position good, and you kept your breathing pattern going. You tired over the last few meters, but we all do. Your turns were good too. I have masters of all ability in my squad, from novices up to world champions. Your stroke is as efficient as any of them - probably much better. Just keep training.

RE: Freestyle Critique Please

Former Member — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 10:52:29 GMT

Curious, what was your official time? (You're certainly faster then I could manage right now!) 54.26 which considering I was only swimming 1 or 2 days a week prior to the meet, I was okay with. Hopefully I can pick that up a little at the next meet. And yes I would agree, Allen, that my last turn was definitely my worst--I felt like I was about to drown at that point and was looking to surface as soon as possible! :cane:

RE: Freestyle Critique Please

Former Member — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 09:37:47 GMT

Thank you for the quick responses, everyone. I think the points all sound good. Would definitely agree my turns could be longer and I am constantly working on keeping my head down--I used to rise up like a periscope to get my breaths and still come much too high out of the water on all of my strokes except backstroke. Astute observation about my 3rd 25 as I was not in the best shape for this meet and was following a 100 free strategy listed on the forum. Namely stretching out the 3rd 25 for dps on a high cruise setting and then coming back hard on the last 25. Still only managing about 2 swims a week but hopefully I can turn in a little better performance in Charlotte at the end of January.

RE: Freestyle Critique Please

rtodd — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 06:04:38 GMT

That was a real solid swim. Your technique looks superb, it's just a matter of training. I would say strive to lower your stroke count by one or two. 18 is good, but 16 would be better. Your kick went away a bit. Work on improving the kick so you can kick your way home. Your dive was explosive, but looked a bit unusual. Experiment with some dive starts. Experiment with breathing every stroke. Shave, wear a cap.

RE: Freestyle Critique Please

Allen Stark — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 06:03:00 GMT

54.26 which considering I was only swimming 1 or 2 days a week prior to the meet, I was okay with. Hopefully I can pick that up a little at the next meet. And yes I would agree, Allen, that my last turn was definitely my worst--I felt like I was about to drown at that point and was looking to surface as soon as possible! :cane: Been there,done that.

RE: Freestyle Critique Please

Allen Stark — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 05:38:05 GMT

The last turn you popped up too soon(didn't make it past the flags.)I think you may have come up a little soon on the start,but I'm not sure.

RE: Freestyle Critique Please

jeffsab — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 04:38:14 GMT

Your head position appears to be a little bit too high and your head seems to wobble a bit. This might have to do with lifting the head a bit to breathe. It's hard to see well, but it appears that your entire face is rotating out of the water, which is unnecessary. Curious, what was your official time? (You're certainly faster then I could manage right now!)