Just a quick update to the mywaterworld.life “ The Art of the Start” page.
The short videoclip (below) compares the off-the-start underwater techniques of Michael Phelps and Peter Vanderkaay. Phelps’ underwater work is phenomenal – note the depth, the tight streamline and the position of the head, the amplitude of the kick and time underwater.
Pause the clip at the 11 second mark (use the settings ikon to slow the playback speed down to 0.5) and compare the two different bubble trails. Less is preferable and Vanderkaay’s two distinct trails are indicative of an entry into the water that is not absolutely “clean”, and therefore less effective than Phelps’.
While not part of the start, it is also very instructive to carefully analyse Phelps’ underwater work off the turn (clip start at 40 seconds). Note how Phelps gets his arms into position for the streamline, the push-off on the back followed by a rotation onto the side with a powerful, wide amplitude dolphin kick.
[The content of this blog is reproduced in full on the Art of the Start page.]
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