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Another analyze my freestyle
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Jiowa
Apr 12, 12 10:32
Post #1 of 31
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Another analyze my freestyle
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http://www.youtube.com/...amp;feature=youtu.be
First couple of laps are regular freestyle followed by catch-drill then fingertip drag drill. I also have a bit of me using a kickboard and then the last bit is an overhead view.
My cruise pace is currently 1:30 per 100 yards.
My training is basically a mix of 500 yds, 5x100 yd intervals, 50 to 200 to 50 yd ladder, and drills (kickboard, catch-up, fingertip, sculling, fist, ankle-band, and kicking with hands at sides).
What say you slowtwitch?
Running is a gift.
BigMikeGA
Apr 12, 12 11:06
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Re: Another analyze my freestyle [Jiowa]
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Suggest that you try to improve your position in the water. Your legs needs to come up a bit. Your catch is abbreviated. You are splaying your legs a bit when you breathe.
Breathe bilateral. If you need to slow your down to do it, try it. Shorten the kick & get feet higher and closer together. At the end of you arm extension tip at the wrist and keep elbow up, pull all the way back. You are letting go to early in the pull. Look at the way your hands are slipping side to side as you pull.
http://bigmikega.wordpress.com
Chucifer
Apr 12, 12 11:10
Post #3 of 31
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Re: Another analyze my freestyle [Jiowa]
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Not an expert, but it looks like your left hand is entering really close to your center line and then sweeping out/down before the catch/pull. Also, your left elbow/hand drops earlier than your right the first couple of laps so it seems like you have a shorter overall pull on that side.
Jiowa
Apr 12, 12 11:51
Post #4 of 31
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Re: Another analyze my freestyle [BigMikeGA]
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Good eye on my feet separating during the breath! Thanks!
Running is a gift.
Jiowa
Apr 12, 12 11:52
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Re: Another analyze my freestyle [Chucifer]
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Chucifer wrote:
Your left hand is entering really close to your center line and then sweeping out/down before the catch/pull.
Awesome!
Running is a gift.
JasoninHalifax
Apr 12, 12 12:03
Post #6 of 31
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Re: Another analyze my freestyle [Jiowa]
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The same 2 pieces of advice which apply to just about every triathlete.
point your effin' toes!!!
dropped elbow on the catch.
____________________________________
"I'm a dirty girl" - Katy
Jiowa
Apr 12, 12 12:21
Post #7 of 31
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Re: Another analyze my freestyle [JasoninHalifax]
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Easier said than done.
I've been kneeling on my shins for the last year to help my ankle flexibility, Gone from a 2:00 50 yd kick to a 1:10 50 yd kick.
And I agree on the catch. I just started today to swim with my eyes forward every few laps to keep an eye on my initial catch and elbow bend.
Running is a gift.
JasoninHalifax
Apr 12, 12 12:50
Post #8 of 31
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Re: Another analyze my freestyle [Jiowa]
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Seriously, other than those 2 things, your stroke isn't that bad. It'd be nice to see the kick tighten up a little, but that's not the end of the world. The main thing is that you are slipping a lot of water on your pull, a higher elbow should address some of that.
____________________________________
"I'm a dirty girl" - Katy
Jiowa
Apr 12, 12 13:02
Post #9 of 31
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Re: Another analyze my freestyle [JasoninHalifax]
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I do have a lot of slip. I take about 20 strokes per 25 yards. Recently I started doing slow sets and counting my strokes and trying to take as few per length as possible. The lowest I can get is 16 but that's with a lot of glide.
I wish I had a mirrored pool I could swim to get real time feedback. But without that luxury, I do think high elbow and sadly when I watch the video I can tell that's not happening. Not sure if it's timing, flexibility or muscle memory?
Thanks for taking a good look at the vid!
Running is a gift.
FLA Jill
Apr 12, 12 13:06
Post #10 of 31
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Re: Another analyze my freestyle [Jiowa]
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Do you ever do much with hand paddles in practice? 300-400 of using them in the middle of a workout can give you some good feedback about whether you're getting the right hand position.
For feedback on whether you're doing the right things with your forearms on the pull back, swimming with fists closed can help teach you something there.
JasoninHalifax
Apr 12, 12 13:08
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Re: Another analyze my freestyle [Jiowa]
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a suggestion that might help - get a set of small paddles. They really shouldn't be very much bigger than your hand, so that the overall resistance to the pull is about the same. to use them properly, use the loop over your middle finger only, no wrist straps allowed. If you drop your elbows or otherwise don't finish your stroke, then the paddles will fall off.
____________________________________
"I'm a dirty girl" - Katy
Jiowa
Apr 12, 12 13:10
Post #12 of 31
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Re: Another analyze my freestyle [JasoninHalifax]
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JasoninHalifax wrote:
a suggestion that might help - get a set of small paddles. They really shouldn't be very much bigger than your hand, so that the overall resistance to the pull is about the same. to use them properly, use the loop over your middle finger only, no wrist straps allowed. If you drop your elbows or otherwise don't finish your stroke, then the paddles will fall off.
Clever!
Running is a gift.
Jiowa
Apr 12, 12 13:11
Post #13 of 31
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Re: Another analyze my freestyle [FLA Jill]
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I don't have paddles. I suppose it's time to invest in some. What size to you suggest?
Running is a gift.
klehner
Apr 12, 12 13:16
Post #14 of 31
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Re: Another analyze my freestyle [Jiowa]
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Jiowa wrote:
I do have a lot of slip. I take about 20 strokes per 25 yards. Recently I started doing slow sets and counting my strokes and trying to take as few per length as possible. The lowest I can get is 16 but that's with a lot of glide.
Stroke count is a red herring. Your optimal stroke count is the one that gets you the most speed for the energy you are willing to expend.
As for the video, the responders have covered it: keep the kick narrower, don't pull outside with your left arm, keep your elbow higher (really imagine that barrel you are supposed to swim over). Try to keep your hand traveling in as straight a line as possible during the entire pull: you'll notice you have a little scull in there. That's wasted motion.
But looks a lot better than most of what has been posted.
----------------------------------
Of course, with your ears stuffed with outrage cotton balls, all you heard was, rahrahra, govt comes to get your guns, rhahrahrah, stamp out your FREEEEEDOM! - slowguy
RowToTri
Apr 12, 12 13:19
Post #15 of 31
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Re: Another analyze my freestyle [Jiowa]
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How does one define "cruise pace"? I just finished a workout that included a 1500 yard piece at a firm but fairly comfortable pace - for me 1:45. Would this constitute "cruise pace"?
-------------
Ed O'Malley
http://www.motivengines.com
@EdwardOMalley
Jiowa
Apr 12, 12 13:21
Post #16 of 31
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Re: Another analyze my freestyle [RowToTri]
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RowToTri wrote:
How does one define "cruise pace"? I just finished a workout that included a 1500 yard piece at a firm but fairly comfortable pace - for me 1:45. Would this constitute "cruise pace"?
That would be a cruise pace in my book.
Running is a gift.
FLA Jill
Apr 12, 12 13:24
Post #17 of 31
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Re: Another analyze my freestyle [Jiowa]
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Start out with small paddles- they can be bad for the shoulders if you overdo them or otherwise misuse them.
Jiowa
Apr 12, 12 13:25
Post #18 of 31
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Re: Another analyze my freestyle [FLA Jill]
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Are these considered small?
http://www.swimoutlet.com/...22381.htm?color=9325
Running is a gift.
JasoninHalifax
Apr 12, 12 13:32
Post #19 of 31
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Re: Another analyze my freestyle [Jiowa]
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If they look like that on your hand, they are too big. And remove the wrist strap. Get the smallest size available to start with.
I used to use these, when I used paddles. Just remember that you want these to build technique, not strength. a paddle that is too large, especially if paired with improper technique, can kill your shoulders. Rotator cuff overuse injuries can take a long time to heal.
____________________________________
"I'm a dirty girl" - Katy
(This post was
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by JasoninHalifax on Apr 12, 12 13:34)
BigMikeGA
Apr 12, 12 18:11
Post #20 of 31
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Re: Another analyze my freestyle [JasoninHalifax]
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I am going to recommend the opposite type of paddle. The finis PT paddle features a convex surface that virtually eliminates the effect of your hand in your stroke. This allows you to feel the portion of your catch & pull that result from your forearm surface area & position. It is a deluxe version of the fist drill. After doing several laps with the paddles, take them off and then swim with your hands feeling the water. You will be amazed at the difference this makes.
http://bigmikega.wordpress.com
lightheir
Apr 12, 12 18:41
Post #21 of 31
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Re: Another analyze my freestyle [BigMikeGA]
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BigMikeGA wrote:
I am going to recommend the opposite type of paddle. The finis PT paddle features a convex surface that virtually eliminates the effect of your hand in your stroke. This allows you to feel the portion of your catch & pull that result from your forearm surface area & position. It is a deluxe version of the fist drill. After doing several laps with the paddles, take them off and then swim with your hands feeling the water. You will be amazed at the difference this makes.
Am far from good at swimming, but I've tried similar fist-devices, and I actually have come to question their value for non-novice swimmers.
WHen I use them, it removes the hand from the equation, but then I end up accelerating the turnover to the point that I question whether it's relevant to the stroke. Slowing it down doesn't help either - I just get dirt slow.
Yes, it ALWAYS feels amazing when I take those devices off - my hand feels like a FLIPPER, but I also notice that it has no change in my times despite this 'awesome' feeling. If it had improved my times, I'd be using them day in day out, but at least for me, even with extensive use for a few weeks, my times got no better, stroke count sans paddle didn't change, and all I was getting was that awesome feeling of a flipper with no time improvement once I took the paddle off which I attribute more to a feeling of adaptation than actual swim improvement.
Would love to hear these things work well so I can try them again, but I'm skeptical. (The idea does sound great.)
JasoninHalifax
Apr 12, 12 19:02
Post #22 of 31
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Re: Another analyze my freestyle [BigMikeGA]
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It isn't the opposite type of paddle you are recommending, it is actually a completely different device altogether. The opposite of "small" isn't "round"...
I've never seen those in action, let alone tried them, so I can't recommend them to anyone. I will say that I always found fist drills and the like to be of limited effectiveness with my own stroke. When I do drills, it tends to be either drills focused on streamlining (eg. kick on side) or catch-up type drills where I can think about one arm at a time. I think it is that the nature of the resistance changes so much with a fist drill that makes it less effective (for me). It is a lot easier to get the forearm vertical without the resistance of your hand against the water, then when you open your hand again you suddenly have to push down harder and then start dropping elbows again.
____________________________________
"I'm a dirty girl" - Katy
BigMikeGA
Apr 13, 12 6:39
Post #23 of 31
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Re: Another analyze my freestyle [lightheir]
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My experience with the PT paddle has been positive. It's like most training, some people respond to things and others don't. I just pulled these out of storage and started reusing them last week again. The effect was almost instantaneous for me. My average time for 50 yard repeats with 10 seconds rest was 45.5. I swim at a pace to keep the repeats within at least 1 second of each other. By the end of the week the average dropped to 43.8. The swims were all at the same RPE. I will admit that I also switched from a 2 beat to a 4 beat kick at the same time. I will also say that my kick is only hard enough to keep my rear end up, not much of a propulsive effect.
My net take away, they work for me. I will swim with small paddles for 6 x 50's and then 4 x 50's with the PT paddles in a workout. So I do limit their use. If during a set of regular swim I think I am not pulling as effectively I will mix in the PT paddles every 3rd rep or so to remind my body how it should feel. Besides affecting my catch they make me concentrate on my overall body position since I am getting less propulsion from the catch.
http://bigmikega.wordpress.com
gadzooks
Apr 13, 12 9:10
Post #24 of 31
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Re: Another analyze my freestyle [Jiowa]
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A lot of good comments and feedback already. One thing I noticed is that you are very weak from your lower back and core. In that short segment where you have the kick board you look like your really struggling with body position even with that 8-10 beat kick. Learn to stabilize yourself in the water from you core and gain some balance.
A simple drill for that might be to just simply push off the wall in a really tight streamline, don't kick or pull, stay in streamline and just glide to a stop. As you slow you want to maintain a level, buoyant body position on the surface of the water. If you feel your lower body sagging way down try to correct it from your core first.
Keswick Cycle-Bryn Mawr Triathlon Team
jasondubose
Apr 13, 12 10:05
Post #25 of 31
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Re: Another analyze my freestyle [Jiowa]
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not bad! however you're still dragging your feet through the water (hips/legs too low), and you look like your ankle isn't very flexible. Also your right arm is doing something funny mid-pull but i'm having trouble discerning it. looks like you're dropping your elbow? if that's the case, don't lead with your elbow. Finally, again i'm not quite sure what it is, but your body roll seems a bit forced. and i'm too lazy to look at it again because it's time for my lunchtime run... Happy Friday!
It looks like you've still got a bit of free speed you can gain on the swim :)
-Jason
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