Front crawl stroke: Straight or hooked. My experience
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fishgutzy
Posts: 2,807 Member
For as long as I have been swimming I have pretty much done a straight arm stroke for the front crawl (free style).
Then I saw a video on Speedo Pace Club showing a well known swimmer that uses more of a hooked arm push across the body.
What I found, for myself anyway, is that this hooked arm stroke is more comfortable for me and at least as efficient as the straight arm stroke.
I had found that when I get over 100 laps that my left shoulder get sore in the spot where I have almost no cartilage (degenerative osteoarthritis). The straight arm stroke puts more pressure toward that part on the joint.
However, the cross body stroke seems to redirect the pressure in my should and thus causes no discomfort on very log swims.
Anyone else have opinions regarding front crawl stroke variants?
Then I saw a video on Speedo Pace Club showing a well known swimmer that uses more of a hooked arm push across the body.
What I found, for myself anyway, is that this hooked arm stroke is more comfortable for me and at least as efficient as the straight arm stroke.
I had found that when I get over 100 laps that my left shoulder get sore in the spot where I have almost no cartilage (degenerative osteoarthritis). The straight arm stroke puts more pressure toward that part on the joint.
However, the cross body stroke seems to redirect the pressure in my should and thus causes no discomfort on very log swims.
Anyone else have opinions regarding front crawl stroke variants?
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When I learned to swim, we were taught to use an S-pull. It took me quite awhile to retrain myself to use a straight pull. Straight, as in the pull is straight back, not having a straight arm. I have always swum with bent elbows during the pull. The hand should not cross your midline though; you want your thrust vector to be as straight as possible.
Seeing that you probably aren't going to be doing any sprint racing, and your goals are distance oriented, I'd say that whatever feels comfortable to you and helps you get there trumps trying to be technically sound.0 -
WHAT - NO S PULL? I think that's what I was taught to do in swim classes 30 years ago. That's a good description on how I pull my hand under the water on the crawl. I was never on a swim team, so I have no technical training. I should get some technical training - what's the best website or book? Anyone with recommendations?0
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The best way would be to get coaching by joining a Masters team near you, but for some good pointers, http://www.swimsmooth.com is pretty good.0
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Can't do "masters" because those folks are mostly training for events and they do all techniques. I am limited due to arthritis.
S-pull wasn't how I was taught back in the late 60's and early 70's. Straight arm was it.
If you check some of the videos on Speedo Pace Club they show several drills where the swimmer is straight arm.
My pull is generally down the center line now, close to the body, That seems to work well for me. And this should also help me in my goal to reach 10km in the pool. It would take a lot more dedicated training to do 10km open water because you can't stop to take a sip of water every 600 yards in open water :bigsmile:0 -
Ok, this is coming from a several time DI all-american and a DII head coach (me):
The S pull is completely outdated. The reasoning to teach it that way was that as your hand travels in a certain direction, the water starts moving with your hand so you change the direction of your pull to get to "clean" water. FIRST, the problem with that theory is physics. Water is incompressible. (Think hydraulic systems on machinery) No matter if the water is moving or not, you're still going to be able to apply the same amount of force. So why waste time doing an s curve when you can pull straight through?? You save time and are able to get the hand to the next stroke more quickly. SECOND, by using the s stroke, you A) put your arm in a biomechanically unstable position and
it makes your hand travel further away from your center line (the further from your center you go the weaker you are...again, biomechanics). THIRD, every time you change the direction of your hand, your hand slips through the water and you lose your force on the water. That all being said, don't "straight arm" your pull. You do have to bend at the wrist and elbow to ensure a strong catch on the water. Just pull straight back instead of doing loop-de-loops with your stroke pattern. Does that all make sense?
Also, and this is to help EVERYONE'S shoulders out there. I don't care how you recover, but if any part of your arm is behind your scapular plane (stand up straight and the natural imaginary plane that extends from your shoulder blade out past your body) you ARE going to give yourself shoulder problems on your recovery. I don't care if you're a straight arm'er like me or a high elbows swimmer, please, Please PLEASE do yourself a favor and keep your arm in front of your scapular plane. It's going to feel funky as heck and you'll have to roll more (hello abs!) but your shoulders will feel SO much better in the long run. You'll be able to train harder and faster without shoulder pain. I can't tell you how I often I cringe watching lap swimmers. It makes my shoulders hurt just watching.
*steps off soap box*0 -
Thank you for your kind advice / tips. I know I have to work on my technique.
JJ - I totally agree that joining a master's swim club would be the best way to work on my technique. Unfortunately, my family commitments (spending an hour a day helping my 7yr old struggling reader, hubby bought a new business where he works nights, my FT job) don't allow it. I swim during my son's swimming lessons 2x a week - I just have to make the most of that time. I do exercise dvds the rest of the week. I will check out that website though.
rm - Last night before I was falling asleep I was thinking about the physics of the S curve and that it wasn't efficient. I just read your comment this morning and my head is spinning a little with center line and scapular plane. I'll check the website out that JJ mentioned and hopefully there will be some drawings or video to help me out. I have noticed a bit of a shoulder twinge at times, but as I'm only able to do between 30 - 40 laps each session (not in the best shape and only 30 - 45 min to swim) it's not something that has really bothered me. But, I will figure out that plane thing so I don't have shoulder pain to compete with my back and knee pain. Actually I really have not time for shoulder pain, as it's hard enough to fit in my knee and back strengthening exercises.0 -
The best way would be to get coaching by joining a Masters team near you, but for some good pointers, http://www.swimsmooth.com is pretty good.
Thank you so much for posting this website!! So great!!0 -
Lose - Glad I could get you thinking! As a coach, I love to hear that!0
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rmsturdy: Tried out the new technique on Saturday. I've also been working on my flip turns. Well, it was funny how much concentration it takes to change my arm movement. I couldn't do both. So, my arms won out. After watching the Mr. Smooth video once and playing around with that website for about 10 minutes, I can see how much technical work I need. Thanks for the pointers.0
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I'd say take a moment and study these super slow-mo videos of Michael Phelps technique...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bWEx3UqVvXU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eo2sNuxOlYQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=db5fw3eo44w
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ax77_hHq9Dc
Pretty hard to argue with his success.0 -
I'd say take a moment and study these super slow-mo videos of Michael Phelps technique...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bWEx3UqVvXUhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eo2sNuxOlYQhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=db5fw3eo44whttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ax77_hHq9Dc
Pretty hard to argue with his success.
10-Q.
My focus is on endurance, not speed. So anything that helps my efficiency should help that.
I have no plans to compete. That requires speed. I'd rather just compete against my last best swim. :laugh:0 -
Can't do "masters" because those folks are mostly training for events and they do all techniques. I am limited due to arthritis.
My masters team has swimmers who do 10 mile swims, swimmers who compete in meets, swimmers who do triathlons, but most of our swimmers just want the exercise, coaching and camaraderie.
We have swimmers with one leg, one arm, missing fingers, and other disabilities. The guy with one leg does distance and never ever does any of the kick sets or the running dives. We have swimmers from ages 18 to 78, and trust me, a lot of us have arthritis, shoulder problems, or just a profound lack of interest in swimming something other than freestyle. Some have never learned fly and couldn't swim backstroke to save their lives. But so what? We aren't trying to get a college scholarship!
Masters swimming teams that I have dropped in on are very inclusive, the coaches understand we are adults, not Olympic wannabes, and if we decide we need that extra "Masters minute" there is no shame in that. If you just want to swim freestyle, then I don't think that would be a problem. Getting some coaching on your technique can really help improve your efficiency and save your shoulders.0 -
i saw a masters swim up in MA when I was visiting my brother.
None at my Y.
So I just rack up the laps
305 miles as of the end of May.0
