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.
Clearly they are looking at the wrong 6 classes of swimmers.I'm great at kicking sets if it's BR,not so much if flutter,fair if dolphin.This survey is unfair to all but distance freestylers(who else swims a 400M free hard?)
Clearly they are looking at the wrong 6 classes of swimmers.I'm great at kicking sets if it's BR,not so much if flutter,fair if dolphin.This survey is unfair to all but distance freestylers(who else swims a 400M free hard?)