Swim types.

[Janos]

Am I alone in thinking this is another attempt by SS to mock the credibility of another swim school?

[machelett]

Originally Posted by Janos

Am I alone in thinking this is another attempt by SS to mock the credibility of another swim school?

I'm puzzled. Which school promotes crossing over, letting the legs sink, and lifting the head to breathe?

[Janos]

Sorry, I meant to specify the overglider.

[CoachJohnB]

Originally Posted by Janos

Am I alone in thinking this is another attempt by SS to mock the credibility of another swim school?

I don't think that is what SS is doing with the swimtypes. I think they are trying to illustrate the most common types of freestyle that they have seen over the years.

[CharlesCouturier]

At some point, and I don't think it has changed much, 48% of all swim guides sold were OGs. It's a public health issue, not a marketing pitch.

[machelett]

Originally Posted by Janos

Sorry, I meant to specify the overglider.

I know. I just wanted to illustrate the absurdity of narrowing the classification down to just what you consider offensive and then perceive that isolated characteristic as mockery.
I believe I find myself in the Bambino category and if I wanted to take offense, that'd be more reason than being called an overglider.

[Rincewind]

I think its really easy to fall into the overglider trap seeing how the term 'glide' is used by pretty much all swim schools.

I'd even venture to say that every self-coached swimmer has been down that path at some point.

So, no, I don't think its an attempt at mockery.

[CharlesCouturier]

Originally Posted by Rincewind

I'd even venture to say that every self-coached swimmer has been down that path at some point.

I can not say otherwise, since it very well depicts what my own path as a swimmer has been. I went through years of overgliding.

In fact at SwimSmooth (in spite of not being certified, worth mentioning), I am probably one of the most overgliding friendly. I acknowledge that there are some benefits of doing this on purpose, and have constantly stated that as long as you can do otherwise when need be, there's nothing wrong overgliding at training, quite the opposite.

The more you overglide, the more it increases torque per stroke, which then brings every single pulling effort much closer to the torque you would typically generate whilst racing.

This technique is often used by sprinters, with great success.

I think, to contradict Janos, that it says a lot on the respect I have for this form of training.

[Janos]

What I am struggling with, absurd as it may seem to some, is that there are many swimsmooth demo videos on youtube. All of the swimmers being competitive and fast, but each showing various idiosyncracies in their strokes, similar to the caricatures shown. The defining characteristic being a high stroke rate. A subject that is repeated constantly on the website and videos. My point is that most on this forum would concede that a high stroke rate is needed for sprint races, so there is no problem there, but we also use the TI style for distance swimming. Both are relevant proven techniques, yet the author of swim types is subtly trying to claim more relevance for muscle power over technique for all purposes.

Janos

[CharlesCouturier]

Hi Janos

I'm in total respect for your point of view, obviously. And I don't think the competition needs me to defend them, so I'll avoid this.

Here are a few semi random statements/anecdotes...

My experience on the Grand Prix circuit (which belongs to the past now, though I'm back on the FINA World Cub circuit this year) tells me that in order to be successful, one must have a Sweet Spot rate above 70, closer to 80 if you're a lady (over the distance you have to achieve, which in my days was typically either 25, 32 or 40some kilos).

The other day, I was fortunate enough to look at a triathlon world cup event, full reportage that is. I found out that all athletes, regardless of the category were winding at above 80 rpm.
(http://www.totalimmersion.net/forum/...ghlight=trivia)

Last and not least. I had heard that there was a very fast distance swimmer training at our University (at least according to the CIS standards, as he did 15:24 this year). Had never met him. Some day I was casual chatting on the deck, and I notice a loner in Lane 8. Good technique. As always, I count the strokes. 16-17 per 25m. Good technique though. So this indicated a very sound swimmer, but 16-17? Man I can do that (as a 50ml/kg/min extraweak chicken wings swimmer). I can even train on 15-16 without never dying. I look at the coach, and go "Is he the One?" He says yes.

That guy was winding a bunch of kilos I believe, on a rate that was probably higher than 80rpm, at training, since he was preparing for Open Water.

So it's not entirely true to believe that rate only serves sprinters. Some ultra distance guys have built their success at these higher rates.