I was cruising the Internet last night and somehow got on the subject of straight-arm recovery (SAR). You know, like Janet Evans and a few other prominent swimmers. The most recent being YouTube - Swimming - Go Swim Straight Arm Freestyle with Scott Tucker.
From what I read, SAR may help to reduce shoulder strain in older swimmers (i.e., me) and those with less flexible shoulders, so I gave it a try this morning just for fun.
I have to say, I like it better than high-elbow. I did several 25 sprints using both techniques and found I wasn't any slower using SAR, and I might actually be slightly faster.
The thing I was really struck with is how effortless it felt to swim SAR as compared to high-elbow (for me anyway), and I also found my pull to be more complete. With high-elbow, I have a tendency to shorten my stroke a little bit and not follow-through completely. With SAR, this isn't the case for me.
I was just curious as to how many others in Masters-land regularly swim using straight-arm recovery.
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Former Member
Why wouldn't it work for longer distances?
It does. Straight arm recovery is very much an individual thing. There are lots of people who believe it is flat out wrong or that it is only for a sprinter.
There is no right or wrong recovery for an individual, just the one that works for you.
Don't listen to someone that says "it is wrong or it only works up to..." Listen to your body. Pay attention to how you feel. Pay attention to your times. Only YOU can decide what is right or wrong for your distances.
Why wouldn't it work for longer distances?
It does. Straight arm recovery is very much an individual thing. There are lots of people who believe it is flat out wrong or that it is only for a sprinter.
There is no right or wrong recovery for an individual, just the one that works for you.
Don't listen to someone that says "it is wrong or it only works up to..." Listen to your body. Pay attention to how you feel. Pay attention to your times. Only YOU can decide what is right or wrong for your distances.
