The swim smooth guys have a new site at www.swimtypes.com that attempts to classify swimmers into six types. I found it interesting to try, and to see how the classification changed when I played around with the input values.
One of the things I found interesting was that they said their data show that people are somewhat polarized between sub 1:25/100m continuous pace for "smooth"/ideal swimmers and plus 1:25/100m "overgliders" and that fitness doesn't seem to be a big factor in dividing people across that time. Most people with good technique will be under 1:25 pace and very few swimmers with overglider technique problems will be able to get under 1:25. They use your 400m time as the input so if your time is under 5:40 you will be classified as smooth, much over that and you'll be classified as an overglider or swinger.
In any case I would be interested in seeing how other people classify and whether you agree with the classification.
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It put me at smooth with no chance of any other type. I would agree with the classification, but I don't think it's really asking enough info to make that kind of determination either.... it just happens to have gotten it right. Seems to me like any decent swimmer is going to end up as a "smooth" type which really isn't going to do much for them. For smooth type they recommend working to refine technique, catch, and being in a structured swim program (and something else about open water). I guess I look at those 3 as "well DUH." Not exactly anything i needed a questionaire and classification to find out.
To be fair I didn't review the suggestions for the other types so maybe the input there is more helpful for people with "problems". For me though it was like they wrote down a few things that are common sense and tried to inflate my ego a bit in the process :)
It put me at smooth with no chance of any other type. I would agree with the classification, but I don't think it's really asking enough info to make that kind of determination either.... it just happens to have gotten it right. Seems to me like any decent swimmer is going to end up as a "smooth" type which really isn't going to do much for them. For smooth type they recommend working to refine technique, catch, and being in a structured swim program (and something else about open water). I guess I look at those 3 as "well DUH." Not exactly anything i needed a questionaire and classification to find out.
To be fair I didn't review the suggestions for the other types so maybe the input there is more helpful for people with "problems". For me though it was like they wrote down a few things that are common sense and tried to inflate my ego a bit in the process :)
