If you come from an older generation of swimmers you may have been taught a technique called the ‘S-Pull’. This is a swim form developed in the 1970s and saw use for a couple decades in the competitive circuit. The goal of the S-Pull was to increase the length of each pull using an S shape: Beginning the stroke with the thumb down, sweeping outwards, and then sweeping back in by the hips. If you’re having a hard time visualizing this, imagine the movement your arm makes when putting on and taking off a towel. The two are basically the same.
However, the technique was created without taking into account the rolling of the body it generates. Also, next to the modern vertical or ‘I-Pull’ techniques, the S Pull has many drawbacks:
· Forcing your palms outwards while entering the water can cause shoulder injuries.
· Your ability to reach further to grab a still anchor point is diminished.
· The path of a swimmer’s hands is arched, pushing water partly sideways rather than straight back, losing efficiency.
So if you’re still using the S-Pull try switching to a straighter form. You want to lengthen your reach so you can anchor in non-moving water, keeping your elbows up, without a small arch. Your hands should only be tilted 45° and kept closed. And when flutter-kicking remember to use your whole leg, with your feet barely breaking the surface, keeping your core contracted to keep your hips from rocking.
The old "S" pull was the first to thing to go when I returned to the pool in '09.
I hate to admit it :blush:, but I really hadn't been paying much attention to swimming, other than watching it during each summer Olympics over the years, and was astonished at all of the changes that have taken place since 1972. It was like learning to swim all over again, which for me is a good thing. :agree:
"Do you use S-Pull or I-Pull"
I have no earthly idea. This is like that question about whether or not your heels touch the wall on flipturns. I'd have to pay attention to figure it out. (And mostly I wouldn't care.)
Honestly, to the extent that I am thinking about stroke (most of it is subconscious) I am thinking about: early/deep catch and roll, and riding high in the water. But the last really just "happens" when the rest is clicking.
"Do you use S-Pull or I-Pull"
I have no earthly idea. I imagine, Chris, you use the "CS-Pull" in the same way that I use the "PB-pull."
I'm not going to poo-poo technique, but I've watched enough swimmers swim enough different "styles" over the years that I've realized ...
I should play around with technique and see if I can implement different approaches that I see faster folks doing, but ...
... my years of heavy yardage have left me with a muscle memory that is very difficult to nudge into a different range of motion
Welcome to the sport of swimming.
I'm intrigued by folks who discover swimming, join a forum, and include a coaching tip in their first post.
You must have had quite a good first year of swimming.
How do you know the poster is new to swimming or in the first year? The "newbie" and number of posts only refer to amount of time on the forum, not the amount of time in the sport.
I took a look at the website he pasted this from and clicked the "About" tab.
I suppose I should have just ignored it and gone about my business. Sorry.
Where did you find a website? I was seriously asking because in the post it didn't mention anything about his years of experience in the sport.
He linked it in his signature. passionispain.com
I imagine, Chris, you use the "CS-Pull" in the same way that I use the "PB-pull."
I think I use a kind of ? pull, slightly out to catch and then pull straight back towards my hips. It figures really as my freestyle technique is rather questionable ;)
