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.
It is my opinion that I see many different types of pulls at the elite level. They all seem to have one thing in common....a high elbow. I did see swimmers hands entering the water with palms out as well as down and both close to the center line as well as shoulder width in the finals of the 1500 free in Beijing. I think you do what gets you down the pool the fastest.
The person I tried to emulate the most at my pool was old school thumbs down palms out and he had what I thought was a traditional S pull. Having said that, he was so darn fast and he had such tremendous DPS, I won't critisize S-pull.
It is my opinion that I see many different types of pulls at the elite level. They all seem to have one thing in common....a high elbow. I did see swimmers hands entering the water with palms out as well as down and both close to the center line as well as shoulder width in the finals of the 1500 free in Beijing. I think you do what gets you down the pool the fastest.
The person I tried to emulate the most at my pool was old school thumbs down palms out and he had what I thought was a traditional S pull. Having said that, he was so darn fast and he had such tremendous DPS, I won't critisize S-pull.
