Streamline your way to success

Posted: Wednesday 12th March 2008

It is well known that a swimmer’s ability to perform a skill – be it starts, turns, or their chosen stroke - will contribute to how fast they perform in a race.

We have seen, through race analysis, a strong relationship between a swimmer’s ability to easily get into a good streamline position, and their start and turn times.

But most importantly, we have also seen significant improvements in starts and turns when athletes have improved their ability to streamline.

So if you are getting beaten off the blocks, or off the wall, then this could be your secret weapon to improve your starts and turns!

All swimmers should aim to easily be able to get into a position where a straight line can be drawn from the fingertips, through the elbows, shoulders and back, to the hips, when standing in a streamlined position.

So, being able to get into, and hold a long, tight, rigid streamline position is critical to be fast on the underwater phases of the start and turns, as well as allowing an efficient swimming stroke in all four strokes.

Read the full article or download a printable version by going to the Essential Squad Info

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