One of the funnest things about this user group is that over time, I think we've built up a kind of
"toolbox" with which to analyze and discuss swimming strokes. Concepts like loping, Yanai effect,
Miller torque, are examples of principles to apply when evaluating swimmers.
The other day I was "going to school" on one of the swimmers in the fast lane. She's an elite female
who used to Captain the U.S. Woman's Water Polo Team, and she's trying to go to the Olympics as a
triathelete. I've seen her bang out a multitude of 70 second hundreds and then hop out of the pool
barely panting. So suffice to say she's an excellent swimmer.
So the other day I'm watching her underwater, and she's using deep, straight arm catches with a
two-beat kick. But instead of hitting the kicks at the end of the arm pull (upsweep), which is where
most people do it, she's hitting the beat during the beginning of her arm cycle, (downsweep).
And I thought, well that might work real well because it counteracts the Miller Torque at a time
when it's greatest: namely, with arm fully extended and descending in the water with a rather
straight elbow.
For those who may have forgotten, I strongly urge you to try Mark Miller's original experiment.
In that experiment, Mark bound his feet together with a non-floating piece of string. But it's
not necessary to do that. Simply push off from the wall in a stream line position and remain
prone and motionless. Use the small muscles of your lower back to hold your legs up. They will
hardly sink at all. Now take a couple of arm strokes while leaving your legs as limp as possible.
Within two cycles, I guarantee that your legs will be pointing at the bottom of the pool. That's
the "Miller Torque" which tries to rotate us about about our center of buoyancy (approx. naval)
and sink our legs.
So I tried the early kick today and it worked great! Like most people, I am right handed, and
breath to the right. I kick three times during the right arm pull, right-left-right, and once on
the left side while breathing. I was trying to put the kick on the left during the end of the left
arm pull. But I find it very awkward - body seems to sink and lose balance while waiting for that
kick. I think the elites let the right leg remain at depth after the final kick on the right side
and that helps.
But anyways, I put the left beat at the end of the three beats on the right side. That's the time
when the left arm is starting it's cycle by diving for depth. Eureka! You can feel your body become
more level, counter acting the Miller Torque. It feels like you're pole-vaulting over your downward
left arm, whereas without that kick it feels like your center of mass is making you fall behind that
"pole" which is your left arm, and not in front of it, which is what you want to swim faster.
Eric