Swimming High Elbow & Front Quadrant

[poolrattie]

I wish you were my coach many years ago.. I have to revamp the stroke and it is taking forever ( almost one year) so your videos help explain things much clearer for us without coaches and other to support us.

[evanscoaching]

@poolrattie Thanks for your comments. Best of luck.

[bylejakie]

Coach I have one simple question. With each stroke we rotate a little to both sides. My question is: do we start to catch (pull) water when we are on our side or do we start to catch the water when we start to rotate? Thank you!

[evanscoaching]

@bylejakie The "catch" occurs early in my opinion. What some believe is a glide is actually not. You should "catch" the water at the very instant the opposite hand is releasing. It's about timing and contiuuing the momentum.

[pocketcharts12]

I first learned about this from "Total Immersion"

Coach Rick

[evanscoaching]

@pocketcharts12 I have coached dozens of "Total Immersion" swimmers and the common trend has been a "long glide". I have not read or seen any of their work first hand yet, I think they're best with body balance techniques and not so good at teaching how to maintain the continuum of the stroke. But that said, I do not have any criticisms except that it is very difficult to teach more than one person at a time and there are mobility, stability issues that should be coupled when teaching. Thanks.

[TheBklynmermaid]

@pocketcharts12

TI teaches long glide, not front quadrant. And I agree, the TI body balance drills are excellent, and valuable for everyone. But I would agree that there is a loss of velocity with long-glide, and I would also postulate that there is a greater tendency to drop the elbow before the pull, which leads to ineffeciency. Thanks you Coach Evans, excellent breakdown of front quadrant mechanics--I will share this video with my students!

[bLinkSSB]

very good advice, many people are not aware of this and attempt to glide too long on one side - I see it all the time

[evanscoaching]

Much appreciated...Thanks.

[Nismogen]

wow, thank you for this video.

Im on my hs jv team and I cant seem to figure out why everyones been beating me until i watched this video.

I think I over extend and I decelerate a lot, but when i hit the turn I beat a lot of people and it frustrates me.

[evanscoaching]

Thanks and I hope this helps you...

[evanscoaching]

Much appreciated.

[joinedtheroom]

i just would like to say thank you for sharing your expertise.

[bylejakie]

Hmm, In my opinion this kind of freestyle is best for sprinting. I mean when I swim fast ( 25, 50, 100) I use this kind of techinque. But when I swim my favorite distance (1500m) I rather concentrate on long strong strokes. But in terms of fast short distance this seems to be a good tip.

[evanscoaching]

I agree, but to be clear when the stroking arm completes the propulsive phase the opposite hand and forearm must be "catching", "Holding", "Anchoring".

The 1500 stroke is longer, but still there is precision in timing that is critical.

So, I agree with you and appreciate your thoughtful comments.

[nproximos]

the technical term for "kayak swimming" is rotary freestyle. hackett and thorpe and larsen jensen use front quadrant swimming. phelps uses a combination of front quadrant on his left side and rotary on his left. there are good reasons for this.

[evanscoaching]

Why not take this approach instead of the tone in previous posts?

This is much better for all concerned and for the nearly 700 subscribers to this channel.

I have to admit my feelings were hurt reading your posts. So if that was your goal you've succeeded. Not so much from what you wrote, but the fact that you're anonymously writing them.

Good luck to you.

[FUNDOC45]

In Australia we have loved watching Grant Hackett and Ian Thorpe. Mark Evans site is the only one that gave a detailed explanation of how they achieve, this front quadrant stroke. Thanks Mark!

[nproximos]

if someone really wants to watch a swimming video thats informative, check out dave scott.

[evanscoaching]

I agree Dave is a great coach. We're friends for over 25 years.

[FUNDOC45]

Basically Dave Scott's site and Mark Evan's site are both trying to teach moving water strokes b using early catch out in front, and early vertical forearm. they are both different explanations of the same thing.

[nproximos]

its unbelievable that you get paid for what you do. "kayak swimming" is not what most top swimmers are doing. you give no basis in terms of physics or biomechanics. good thing no one watches this video.

[evanscoaching]

Thank you.

[FUNDOC45]

It's difficult to explain a "constant propulsion" "no glide stroke", especially to moronically concrete thinking, closed minded people. For those capable of just a little higher abstract thought about their sport. "Kayak swimming is actually a useful concept in swimming propulsion. Maybe you need a one syllable coach!

[nproximos]

this video teaches incorrect technique.

[evanscoaching]

Thanks for your comment.

All of us would appreciate you sharing your expertise by uploading a text or even better a video reply and explaining exactly what you mean.

Otherwise, your comments won't help the rest of those who find this channel useful.

[FUNDOC45]

In the water, i actually find the "kayaking" visualisation or feel for the water while stroking, than other attempts to explain front quadrant such as almost catch up etc. Thanks again.

[evanscoaching]

Be sure to get the early release and time this with the catch. You'll find the high elbow comes together nicely.

[FUNDOC45]

Hi thanks, I had one of those 'aha' "just clicked" moments with right catch, left early release, now trying to time left catch with right release. Thanks for all your tips, the best thing is getting faster!

[FUNDOC45]

Thanks for explaining a complex swimming concept! As I transition to more open water swimming I find the constant propulsion concept, is what is needed in "moving water". Coming from Australia, I have loved to watch Thorpe and Hackett. Thanks for explaining their complex movements to a "fun swimmer".