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.
I believe I'm a swinger but I don't like the picture they put there. :afraid: I don't kick, never really have. Although I have worked more on high elbow and I think I've done a pretty good job but I don't rotate as much as I could.
That was interesting to see. Thanks for sharing.
After reading the descriptions, I would classify myself as Swinger. I meet most of the characteristics of Smooth as well, except that I have a 2-beat kick. After filling out their questionnaire, I was classified as Smooth with a little bit of Swinger. I have to agree with Alison that I don't like the Swinger picture. I also found it interesting that it asks in what length pool you swim, but still asks for a 400m time. Also I've only heard flip turns called tumble turns once before. The expression makes me think of a very inefficient turn.
It says I'm a "smooth" all the way, but reading the descriptions I think I have some "overglider" tendencies. As Lindsay noted by their definition an overglider can only be so fast, and the time I entered removed me from overglider consideration. :)
After taking the quiz, it says I'm kicktastic. :confused: I said "no" to being good at kick sets. I just had ankle surgery in Nov and now have a ganglion cyst that will be removed soon. I am extremely far from kicktastic.
Did the survey. Result: Very high probability of kicktastic, low and near equal probabilities of swinger and smooth, (swinger slightly higher) all other types near zero.
By reading the descriptions and comparing the example videos to videos of me I would conclude: comparable probabilities of swinger and smooth, (swinger somewhat higher), ZERO probabillity of anything else, including kicktastic.
I think their survey may not consistently handle the pool length and stroke count questions.
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 :)
I'm kicktastic.
The survey seems biased against sprinters to me. I have no idea what my 400m time is; nor do I know how many strokes I take on the latter half of that distance. Plus, they only ask about your freestyle. What about us strokers?
But I do like to kick!
I do not even need to take the questionnaire. I looked at the explanation of the six types. I'm easily an Overglider. I have only swimming a year and a half... "Smooth" is the goal, here. :)
