Differences between Drills and Videos?

[zwrdl]

I have been self-teaching using the book "Triathlon Swimming Made Easy" and the DVD "TI Freestyle Made Easy." Comparing these training tools to the videos posted on YouTube, including Terry in "Perpetual Motion," as well as the Japanese TI videos, etc., I notice what appear to be two significant differences in the forward quadrant. I will use Terry's swimming as my example, but the other swimmers appear to do the same.

1. Terry does not place his entry hand in the water just in front of his head, as the drills advise,but rather seems to use an entry point far in front, more than halfway between head and full extension.

2. More crucial, from my TI beginner's perspective (I am an advanced open water distance swimmer, now changing my form), is that Terry appears to start his pull *before* his recovery arm enters the water. I was under the impression that the stroking hand did not start the catch and pull until shortly *after* the recovery hand was in the water.

Please comment.

[daveblt]

[quote=zwrdl;2619]

1. Terry does not place his entry hand in the water just in front of his head, as the drills advise,but rather seems to use an entry point far in front, more than halfway between head and full extension.


I always understood that you enter just in front of the head also which is what I try to do. In this video it does seem a little extended to me . Or a little more than TI recommends ??
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IQ-jaWKjHus&fmt=18


2. More crucial, from my TI beginner's perspective (I am an advanced open water distance swimmer, now changing my form), is that Terry appears to start his pull *before* his recovery arm enters the water. I was under the impression that the stroking hand did not start the catch and pull until shortly *after* the recovery hand was in the water.


That would give you a little too much front quadrant timing for regular swimming .The pull should start just before or maybe just as the hand enters.

Dave

[Rhoda]

Are you comparing drilling to swimming? Don't forget, the drills are exaggerated in order to correct old muscle memory. You aren't meant to swim in such an extreme way, but doing the drills brings the whole stroke closer to it. As you speed up, your hand will enter further forward, but not with the palm slapping down flat on the water surface as you see some people doing.

[naj]

Your lead hand begins to pull as your recovery hand's fingertips begin to enter the water. Rhoda that's a good point about the exaggerated recovery arm entry. A good placement is about at the elbow of the lead arm.