OK, so I re-shot the pics. This time it’s a sequence of how it feels like I am swimming.
Note: my right arm would be angled down less than this in the water.
This feels pretty close to my real position as I catch.
My elbow/upper arm is lower than this in the water at this point, though I am trying to keep that elbow as high as I can.
I love and respect the beauty that is Alex Popov…BUT
He is very narrow on roll center reletive to 2008. he is very 1992.
It is awesome to see him break 1:00 for 100M Kick LCM
swim more
What does “narrow on roll center” mean?
P.S. I do swim more. A lot more. 36,000y in the last 2 weeks. Which means I thought about this front end stuff about 25,000 times (~17-19 spl)!!
Dear SlowFish…
I don’t think that’s a nice way to address the fishies if you want help 
I get it (slowtwitch fish) but when you put it together it just doesn’t work!
edit- that said, the “swimming in bed” photos are pretty creative.
Close your fingers!!!
Close your fingers!!!
Thought that myth was de-bunked?
Dear SlowFish…
I don’t think that’s a nice way to address the fishies if you want help
I get it (slowtwitch fish) but when you put it together it just doesn’t work!
edit- that said, the “swimming in bed” photos are pretty creative.
Fixed, just for you.
Hi Aztec,
Advice for spending quality time…and I am happy serious, not my usual H-Hole self
Find a clinic coming near or swing by the Kona compound in June or October
Eric and Karlyn are the real deal
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Its ok for a little spacing between them but it looks like you are actively spreading your fingers as wide as possible.
Hi Aztec,
Advice for spending quality time…and I am happy serious, not my usual H-Hole self
Find a clinic coming near or swing by the Kona compound in June or October
Eric and Karlyn are the real deal
<<>
<>
Cool. I’m always looking for stuff like that. I won’t be out to Hawaii for 6-7 months, so in the meantime… I’ll assume I have it approx right in my pics. I have to swim somehow!
SwimBoy - I see what you mean about the fingers. I keep them tighter than that in the water. I can feel the water slip through when I don’t.
Hey Aztec,
Glad you have improved from your old tagline , slowest swimmer on ST 
I have been attending masters TI here , for the past 21 months. Although TI gets a lot of bashing here and I too am aware of it’s limitations , it has instilled plenty of discipline in my technique. I am still slow , but I use SUBSTANTIALLY less energy now than I did previously.
All I really see in this thread is focus on the catch.
I have not seen any mention of the focus on the hips.
We did a stroke count the other day and again my coach proved that my “power strokes” ie: my best catch and supposed faster method , was still slower and less efficient than the method of long “silent” stroke with power initiation from the hips.
It is difficult for me to explain on paper and granted I do not have above average swim splits , but it is the method that has been instilled upon me and has allowed me to exit the water in IM ( non-wetsuit , ocean ) feeling as though I have used minimal energy volountarily.
Apologies if this is already been covered here , I haven’t seen it and feel it should be highlighted.
Good analogy pics on the bed though , that really does help , rather than trying to stae something that is effectively 3D.
OK, I hate to be a Dick here…BUT call me Richard!
As a follower of TI, you admitted the reality…you are still slow,
That sucks.
Stroke count, I take 14 strokes per 25m pool length
You take same (just humor me on that one!)
I take 16.5 sec with 132hr per 25m length
You take 22.5 sec with 120hr per 25m length
(again I am taking Liberties…but "The Sham That is TI "is taking liberty of about $500 for a 1 day clinic that advocates sucking ass as a swimmer.)
Get a lesson from a real swimmer,Give him/her $100 and drop from where-ever to 14 strokes and 18 secs per 25mlength.
Slow sucks
in swimming
in driving
in riding
in running
fill in your choice here
Tom P
H-Hole
FastFish on SlowTwitch
Ok Richard
I do not deny that slow sucks , I could not agree with you more. And some good points you’ve mentioned.
Considering where I was and where I am now , it has helped , but then again I am swimming more frequently than previous.
My coach who was not a TI student himself , but presently teaches masters on the back of TI methodology , is branching out next month to a new club and will be at liberty to teach his own methods.
To reiterate , my post was not to highlight my own swimming or TI by any means , but to highlight the function of hips.
Regards
Terry
Tom-really appreciated your links.One question-I used to swim with my fingers apart but my coach said modern evidence was to get the fingers tightly together.Both Thorpe and Hackett seem to have their fingers widely separate.Comments?
Hey Aztec,
Glad you have improved from your old tagline , slowest swimmer on ST
I have been attending masters TI here , for the past 21 months. Although TI gets a lot of bashing here and I too am aware of it’s limitations , it has instilled plenty of discipline in my technique. I am still slow , but I use SUBSTANTIALLY less energy now than I did previously.
All I really see in this thread is focus on the catch.
I have not seen any mention of the focus on the hips.
I’m happily no longer the slowest. I’m about upper 1/4 in a typical sprint, and MOP in 70.3 events (maybe slightly better than that now - haven’t raced in 10 months).
I didn’t bring up hips, etc., because I’m not concerned about them in this thread. Didn’t want this to turn into a “how do I swim faster?” thread. Regardless of hips, I still have to get the front end right. And that’s what I see with every stroke, and wonder which of the many ways I should be doing it.
He Said:
“Tom-really appreciated your links.One question-I used to swim with my fingers apart but my coach said modern evidence was to get the fingers tightly together.Both Thorpe and Hackett seem to have their fingers widely separate.”
Comments?
Hi,
Professionally, I have no problem with a natural spread of the fingers. If you can imagine that you pull with the entire forearm/hand complex. Then a naturally spread hand fits right in.
On a personal basis, I am somewhat asymetrical. Left hand and arm are trying their level best to emulate Hackett.
My right hand and forearm is different. In an unfortunate sporting accident as a 13yo, I tore my right hand and wrist in two.
Thumb only connected by a flap of skin, wrist/carpal tunnel opened wide, ulnar nerve gone, 3 tendons severed…basically a very bad day.
18mos and 5 recon surgeries later it was 'kinda intact.
I definitely swim with the forearm…the right thumb sticks out sideways, the fingers splay out all wierd…the best way to describe the right hand wrist as it applies to swimming is that there is a z pattern to the hand and wrist.
No matter…the forearm pulls it all thru, the hand helps, but is not totally crucial (as I have been forced to find out…oops)
Still, 26 HIM swim, and 52IM swim on a FUBAR right hand/wrist…it works (and beats the hell out of a prosthetic)
TP