January 25, 2008
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Mark McDonnell, a coach from http://www.triexpert.com , commented on my earlier post about swimming with paddles. I thought it worth posting his comments as a blog:

Mark writes…

So, your thumb enters the water first upon recovery, but you need to complete your reach (both to “lengthen your vessel” and to “anchor your hand” in preparation for the pull). And, guess what? You’ve rolled over onto your other side meanwhile, with a “corkscrew” movement of your torso (a metaphor you use in a later post, that I may also comment on, Lord help ya!).

That metaphor also applies to the movement of your forearm in the transition from catch, through extension, thence to pull. Indeed, it’s simpler than, and in every way but one, than my “pinky over the ball.”

What mine adds is the sensitivity to the early movement of the hand in the initiation of the pull. You want water to begin to move backwards as soon as possible, which entails flexing the wrist and then the elbow in a very dynamic manner. TI speaks of “reaching over a barrel.” I find my phrase cues improved focus on the action of the hand and forearm.

I never heard that before, and I swam with a Master’s team for almost a year. I always plunge my hand into the water horizontally, as if it were a spear. I never thought of rolling my hand along with my body roll. I will try this next swim workout.

Here’s some footage of Grant Hackett doing a 1500m race. You can see how his hand rotates like Mark describes. I love watching stuff like this for visualization. Also, notice how his kick seems very relaxed.

[youtube:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f6qIhkuzTx0]