New Start

Alan, I agree with Chris that this start has been around since the seventies. If you remember the blocks at Indy, they have slightly elevated rails on the sides for this purpose. I don't think starters like it very much because it can take longer to get set. I experimented with this start ages ago but, for me, the key to a good start is the correct body position and angle of entry that causes the least amount of resistance, not who is first to hit the water. When I enter the water correctly (which is very rare for me in a race) I feel an amazing sensation of acceleration. The best 50 free I ever had in masters I had one of those starts. I realized instantaneously that that sensation was like nothing I'd felt before. Unfortunately, It only happens rarely in races. I'm not alone in this even among the best. I remember a post Olympic Trials interview with Garret Weber-Gale who was also bemoaning his lack of consistancy in nailing his entry. Rich

Alan, I agree with Chris that this start has been around since the seventies. If you remember the blocks at Indy, they have slightly elevated rails on the sides for this purpose. I don't think starters like it very much because it can take longer to get set. I experimented with this start ages ago but, for me, the key to a good start is the correct body position and angle of entry that causes the least amount of resistance, not who is first to hit the water. When I enter the water correctly (which is very rare for me in a race) I feel an amazing sensation of acceleration. The best 50 free I ever had in masters I had one of those starts. I realized instantaneously that that sensation was like nothing I'd felt before. Unfortunately, It only happens rarely in races. I'm not alone in this even among the best. I remember a post Olympic Trials interview with Garret Weber-Gale who was also bemoaning his lack of consistancy in nailing his entry. Rich