So earlier at practice I experimented with flat feet coming off every wall. There was a very noticeable difference. I could surface with ease past the flags, without any DKs. In my first two years of swimming, I have used just the balls (and toes) of my feet in coming off the walls.
Flat feet (that is, both ball and heel) feels a little awkward right now, like any technique change, but I think I'm going to start adjusting to it for permanent use.
Thanks to Jim Thornton who suggested I make this a poll!
Parents
Former Member
I disagree with this. No serious, competitive swimmer in the world will have his feet flat on the wall at any time during the turn, with his heels touching.
Michael Phelps is kinda serious
YouTube - Michael Phelps turn
At :48 seconds, you'll clearly see Natalie Coughlin push-off the wall with flat feet. She's what I'd call a serious competitve swimmer.
YouTube - Natalie Coughlin Swim Tip #5: Flip Turn
Aaron Peirsol's collapses to a flat foot on his second backstroke turn (a little hard to see) but it happens. He's really a serious swimmer (really serious).
YouTube - Aaron Peirsol 200m Backstroke
Breaststrokers like all swimmers collapse from the balls of their feet to a flat foot. Brendan Hansen is a serious swimmmer (seriously).
YouTube - Brendan Hansen Men's 200m Breastroke
Here's some slow motion video that shows flat feet on the wall. So, let me make it perfectly clear, if you can tell me, seriously, that power off the wall is more effectively achieved from only the balls of the feet rather that from a flat foot and then to the balls of the feet or from the balls of the feet that collapse to a flat foot and then extend to the balls of the feet, I don't agree with your premise.
“Don't be buffaloed by experts and elites. Experts often possess more data than judgment. Elites can become so inbred that they produce haemophiliacs who bleed to death as soon as they are nicked by the real world.”
Colin Powell
I disagree with this. No serious, competitive swimmer in the world will have his feet flat on the wall at any time during the turn, with his heels touching.
Michael Phelps is kinda serious
YouTube - Michael Phelps turn
At :48 seconds, you'll clearly see Natalie Coughlin push-off the wall with flat feet. She's what I'd call a serious competitve swimmer.
YouTube - Natalie Coughlin Swim Tip #5: Flip Turn
Aaron Peirsol's collapses to a flat foot on his second backstroke turn (a little hard to see) but it happens. He's really a serious swimmer (really serious).
YouTube - Aaron Peirsol 200m Backstroke
Breaststrokers like all swimmers collapse from the balls of their feet to a flat foot. Brendan Hansen is a serious swimmmer (seriously).
YouTube - Brendan Hansen Men's 200m Breastroke
Here's some slow motion video that shows flat feet on the wall. So, let me make it perfectly clear, if you can tell me, seriously, that power off the wall is more effectively achieved from only the balls of the feet rather that from a flat foot and then to the balls of the feet or from the balls of the feet that collapse to a flat foot and then extend to the balls of the feet, I don't agree with your premise.
“Don't be buffaloed by experts and elites. Experts often possess more data than judgment. Elites can become so inbred that they produce haemophiliacs who bleed to death as soon as they are nicked by the real world.”
Colin Powell
