Stroke Technique for the Big Meet

This week’s Speedo Tip of the Week comes from the July-August 2006 issue of Splash magazine, in which USA Swimming’s Biomechanics Coordinator Russell Mark offers some advice for swimmers heading into their big, end-of-the-season meet. Here are some guidelines.

The Tip:
The big meet is coming up fast. For most swimmers, the end of the season is a time of excitement, mental preparation, taper practices… and worrying about their stroke technique?!?

Wrong!  Just relax.

The hard work for the season is complete, and the stroke that will carry you to success in the end is the same stroke you’ve trained and raced with all season long. Your body and brain have gotten used to using your muscles in those specific motions for months when you’re swimming fast and swimming tired, and sticking with that same basic technique will pay off when your body is rested and ready to go.

Being focused on maintaining your technique throughout the taper and making some fine-tuned adjustments are both perfectly fine, but you should be cautious about making any major stroke changes at the last minute.

Thinking about your technique is important at all times, and the best time to make a major change is at the beginning and the middle of the season, so your body has time to get used to the change.

When you actually get to the big meet, your technique may be on auto-pilot, but there are still a number of things that you should think about to help you perform at your very best:

    * Starts – Starting blocks differ from pool to pool, so make sure you are comfortable with getting set on the block and with how you feel coming off of it.

    * Turns – Just like with starting blocks, the walls might be slightly different from what you’re used to. They might be more or less slippery or have higher, lower or no gutter to grab onto. Make sure you practice racing some turns in warm-up.

    * Finishes – Don’t underestimate your finishing technique. A poor finish can easily cost you a few tenths of a second and maybe the race, so make sure you finish well.  Your head should be down (don’t lift your head up early), race all the way to the wall and extend your arm as much as possible.

See more Speedo Tips of the Week at USA Swimming's site.