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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That's interesting. I have an Ape index of about -1. But I think I have a relatively short stroke. Something else to think about. I loves Scott's kick. That's amazing.
Scott defies a lot of commonly accepted implicit principles. Very high rate (>80rpm) with a strong kick as a first leg of an Ironman Triathlon.
He ignored these good old cliches and managed to design a stroke technique that best fits his body type and personality. Being a swinger isn't a bad thing at all. This year I started coaching a natural swinger that doesn't swing. Short guy with little sensations for the water that unfortunately spent several years trying to tune himself as a glider. The result was awful.
He's a swinger therefore his best bet is to learn how to swing *correctly/efficiently*, not trying to become someone he can't possibly be. That's the message behind Swim Smooth's Swim Type theory. Not everyone can or even should try to swim like Grant Hackett or A.Popov. Studies on the optimal "Stroke Rate/Distance per Stroke" given body types has been a big thing throughout the development, which spanned over several years.
Worth noting that this Ape Index thing seems to have been first developed by and for climbers. Swimming isn't that different from climbing, especially the Free Style.
That's interesting. I have an Ape index of about -1. But I think I have a relatively short stroke. Something else to think about. I loves Scott's kick. That's amazing.
Scott defies a lot of commonly accepted implicit principles. Very high rate (>80rpm) with a strong kick as a first leg of an Ironman Triathlon.
He ignored these good old cliches and managed to design a stroke technique that best fits his body type and personality. Being a swinger isn't a bad thing at all. This year I started coaching a natural swinger that doesn't swing. Short guy with little sensations for the water that unfortunately spent several years trying to tune himself as a glider. The result was awful.
He's a swinger therefore his best bet is to learn how to swing *correctly/efficiently*, not trying to become someone he can't possibly be. That's the message behind Swim Smooth's Swim Type theory. Not everyone can or even should try to swim like Grant Hackett or A.Popov. Studies on the optimal "Stroke Rate/Distance per Stroke" given body types has been a big thing throughout the development, which spanned over several years.
Worth noting that this Ape Index thing seems to have been first developed by and for climbers. Swimming isn't that different from climbing, especially the Free Style.
