After recognizing that my stroke is much longer than most OWS, I decided to poke around and see if stroke was different for OW as opposed to swimming in a pool. I found this (There is a part 2 if you click on the channel and scroll down the right side):
YouTube - Swim Smooth: What Is An Efficient Freestyle Stroke? Part 1
I would love to get reactions. I know that when I quicken my stroke rate and shorten my stroke I seem to fatigue much more quickly. However, this could be due to not pursuing this long enough to re-establish breathing patterns. (When I concentrate on my stroke, I tend to hold my breath without realizing it).
I do know that while my per 100 pace is slowly improving with more speed work in my work outs, it has dropped now where near what it used to be 20 years ago.
We never use the phrase 'catch up.' In fact, we have not even used the phrase 'front quadrant' in 12 or 13 years. Any coach who suggested that to you is giving their own input, not representing anything advocated by TI.
Terry, thanks for the clarifications. I'm glad to hear the catch-up stroke isn't advocated by TI. The coach does list himself as a "TI Teaching Professional," but based on your comments, I'll just chalk it up to an off-the-reservation opinion.
A TI Coach who has remained current, rather than use such a vague term, would give you a series of Tempo Trainer exercises to allow you to 'organically' optimize your stroke via direct experience.
That sounds like excellent advice - and indeed, I've found the Tempo Trainer to be a very useful tool. I just wish they didn't break so easily!
Having more arrows in your quiver allows more adaptation to conditions.
I'm also pleased to hear that "adaptation to conditions" (w/r/t stroke tempo) is part of your framework for Open Water. My impression of TI's position was based on an article you wrote in 2008, "The Open Water Stroke," in which you argue that, just as "longer, slower strokes" work better in LCM compared to SCY, that even longer, even slower strokes should work best in Open Water. Perhaps your view has evolved on this point? Or perhaps you only meant it to apply to neutral open water conditions, not rough water?
In any case, it sounds like we mostly agree on this. Thanks again - I think this has been a valuable thread.
We never use the phrase 'catch up.' In fact, we have not even used the phrase 'front quadrant' in 12 or 13 years. Any coach who suggested that to you is giving their own input, not representing anything advocated by TI.
Terry, thanks for the clarifications. I'm glad to hear the catch-up stroke isn't advocated by TI. The coach does list himself as a "TI Teaching Professional," but based on your comments, I'll just chalk it up to an off-the-reservation opinion.
A TI Coach who has remained current, rather than use such a vague term, would give you a series of Tempo Trainer exercises to allow you to 'organically' optimize your stroke via direct experience.
That sounds like excellent advice - and indeed, I've found the Tempo Trainer to be a very useful tool. I just wish they didn't break so easily!
Having more arrows in your quiver allows more adaptation to conditions.
I'm also pleased to hear that "adaptation to conditions" (w/r/t stroke tempo) is part of your framework for Open Water. My impression of TI's position was based on an article you wrote in 2008, "The Open Water Stroke," in which you argue that, just as "longer, slower strokes" work better in LCM compared to SCY, that even longer, even slower strokes should work best in Open Water. Perhaps your view has evolved on this point? Or perhaps you only meant it to apply to neutral open water conditions, not rough water?
In any case, it sounds like we mostly agree on this. Thanks again - I think this has been a valuable thread.
