Do most of the in-swimming-shape and experienced swimmers among you go all out for a whole 50 yards or is there some pacing? In other words are you going top speed the whole time? The reason I'm asking is that right now I can do 25 yards from a standstill in 13 seconds, but my best 50 yard time from a standstill is 33 seconds. (I'm a horrible diver at this point, but once I get my stroke in order I'll start working on that). Anyhow, is it reasonable for me to shoot for a 26 second 50 by just improving my endurance and flip turns, or is it like comparing 50's and 100's where a 50 time will always be less than half a hundred. Thanks for your thoughts.
I don't do a lot of sprinting, but once in a while give it a few shots just to see where I am. Unfortunately I'm unable to do a master's class because I work in shifts and would miss half of them, so I'm pretty much on my own trying to get better. :badday:
Former Member
My guess is that most people that break 22 seconds in the 50 yard free don't gulp in mother air in the first 25. On the back half, well why breathe? You only have 11 seconds left.
Swimming a 26 second 50 is a whole new ball of wax.
"Yesterday I spoke with Shaun Jordan (Shaun swam for the US in the '88 and '92 Olympics.) we were talking about the 50 free and he was telling me how Matt Biondi and Tom Jager taught him to build his 50 meter free race, that he needed to relax on the first 10 strokes and build into the wall. Rather than going all out from the start. This allowed him to swim much faster on the second 25."
I wonder how many strokes those chaps take in a 50yd. free.? 22 would be my guess.
Swimming a 26 second 50 is a whole new ball of wax.No kidding.
At 22 seconds I start to really need air so I take a breath.
By 24 seconds I need another because the first was mostly water so I take a long one (video shows I pause my stroke).
Few seconds later I finally hit the hall.
I posted it right here
YouTube- 19.23.WMV
Wow, what a start...he got an incredible jump on the gun. The guys to his left (on the first 25, to his right on the back half) look to be no slouches, maybe 22ish? And yet the race was over at the breakout.
Thanks for posting. Gives me a lot to think about for my start. I like how he lines his back foot up directly behind the front, think I will give that a try.
I was at this meet. A lot of the Team Elite guys from our club participated. It was a USMS meet and they are awesome swimmers and super nice as well. They all hung out with us and were very encouraging.
