The new issue of the ASCA magazine demonstrates a start like the grab start except you grab the block on the side about even with your ankles and lean forward as far as you can.The article says it is about .3 sec faster.I haven't tried it yet,have any of you?
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.These discussions are precisely why I prefer events like the 400 IM & 500 free or more ... the start really (at our level of competition) just doesn't have that big of an impact on the race. Given my exceedingly slow reaction time, I'm going to be slow off the blocks no matter where I grab the blocks.
When did the start disappear where you hold your arms behind you and swing them down at the gun/buzzer? I've been trying out these grab-track starts and don't feel comfortable with them.I remember my buddy and I doing this at an age group championship meet when we were age groupers and getting lambasted by our coach. It was fun, though.
Remember doing starts where, after a nice pike, you threw a little air kick in before hitting the water? When I think back to some of the resistance-adding things I did as a youngster, it amazes me how hard it is to swim as fast now as I did then.
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.These discussions are precisely why I prefer events like the 400 IM & 500 free or more ... the start really (at our level of competition) just doesn't have that big of an impact on the race. Given my exceedingly slow reaction time, I'm going to be slow off the blocks no matter where I grab the blocks.
When did the start disappear where you hold your arms behind you and swing them down at the gun/buzzer? I've been trying out these grab-track starts and don't feel comfortable with them.I remember my buddy and I doing this at an age group championship meet when we were age groupers and getting lambasted by our coach. It was fun, though.
Remember doing starts where, after a nice pike, you threw a little air kick in before hitting the water? When I think back to some of the resistance-adding things I did as a youngster, it amazes me how hard it is to swim as fast now as I did then.
