Pic of the Week
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Pic of the Week - May 6, 2005

Posted by Glenn Mills on May 06, 2005 05:15AM (4,437 views)
This week's Pic of the Week features Kevin Clements doing a start. And we are offering a special incentive for you to post your comments.

Kevin Start

[url=http://www.goswim.tv/potw/kevinstart800.jpg]View or download larger image[/url]

If you post a comment about this picture, we'll send you the link to the video clip from which it was taken. To get the video, you've got to get involved!


Responses

Responded May 06, 2005 09:03AM

Great picture of a great set up for a track start. I am concerned about the amount of weight his has on his back foot. Anybody else have the same feeling?
Responded May 06, 2005 09:35AM

I think full weight of body is on front foot.Back foot taking only marginal weight.back foot help maintaining balance
Flexibility of spine is great.
Responded May 06, 2005 10:38AM

I think his weight is too far back, head is too far back also. Eyes too far forward. Front foot is flat, not conducive to a really quick-off-the-block start. Looks explosive, but not super quick.
Pat
Responded May 06, 2005 10:52AM

Look at his body. You can see that he is ready to go.

I don't think that he is too far anything. The degree of how far forward depends on each athlete. You can tell that he is ready to flat out fly off the block. That is what is important. How you get there depends on the swimmer and some experimentation.
Responded May 06, 2005 10:58AM

About his position on the blocks, remember one very important thing, and it should be observed as well... The guys got a fairly good physique. In other words, he has the POWER to send himself forward from this position. While most people wouldn't, guys like this DO. Also, Kevin is a National Champion in the 400 IM, and accomplished swimmer at all levels, so, even though he's no sprinter, imagine this is a "standard" or average start for someone in the final heat of Nationals, or Olympic Trials in the 200, and or 400 IM. Not too shabby. :)
Responded May 06, 2005 11:00AM

I agree that he is in a good overall position. What about arms already tensed? Anybody feel that there is not room to react when the gun fires?
Responded May 06, 2005 02:09PM

A few comments from me too.

I want to pick up on Coach Black and Glenn's comments - and these are comments that I'm hearing myself...that there are rules and ways of doing things in swimming but that there is a lot of individual variability in how strokes and starts/turns are done - all very successfully. This variability is attributable to differences in body size, shape, flexibility and physical abilities. Thus, tips and advise can not be rigidly applied to everyone.

When looking at this picture, the only thing that I can think of is that his body/hips are too far back and thus his center of gravity is too far back - but at the same time, he really looks ready to explode out of the starting blocks when the gun goes off.

So, my impression is that there's a lot to learn from this picture - things to learn about the general guidelines about how to properly do a track start - and many things to learn about how to adapt and tweak things to maximize efficiency for YOU. Its also like the difference between track and grab starts - one will work better than the other based on individual variability.
Responded May 06, 2005 04:08PM

Unfortunately, the swimmer`s right hand hides the position of his front foot toes, which apparently are not grasping the front edge of the block. I think this is a very important item among those which contribute to the maximum efficiency in terms of start speed .
Concerning the location of the center of gravity, I figure it is fairly in a vertical line which coincides with the mean distance existing between his feet.
Regarding to the image, it is elegant, beautiful indeed. I imagine this fine body position being taken within a few milliseconds before the start exploding ; by the contrary, another sight could be a kind of clever posing …
Finally, the surprisingly S shape of his spine which promises a fantastic feline jump.

Responded May 07, 2005 11:36AM

What a beautiful body! WOW!
Responded May 08, 2005 01:50PM

what about the arms... some people call this the 'gorilla position', and what often happens when the signal comes is that the arms will rotate, elbows pointing more backward. Some state that having the arms in the elbow-backwards-position already at the 'take your marks' command will quicken reaction... at least you are eliminating unnecesary movements...
Responded May 09, 2005 09:36AM

I think this conversation on starts is great. Since the advent of the track start the debate has insued on the correct position. If you watch the olympic trials tapes you will see all variety of starts. In Glenn's video w/Amanda Beard she rocks back in her 100 start.(great video by the way. I highly recommend it for everyone to see) Is that right or wrong? Hard to say it wasn't right for her in that situation. That is the great thing about this sport. Always something to tweak. It keeps us coaches in business!
Responded May 10, 2005 12:16PM

The position reminds me of a loaded spring - he looks ready to just explode off the blocks.
Responded May 11, 2005 03:25PM

I'm an open water swimmer, and don't know jack about block starts -- haven't done one since high school!

I was surprised at all the comments on the body position, because to me, at first glance, this guy looks like he is ready to just TEAR off the blocks when the gun goes off. It is amazing the amount of energy and power that is contained in his body, ready to unleash. wow.

I don't know about which body position, center of gravity, toe position, etc., make for a fast response time. But this position has all the look of POWER ready to be unloaded forward. He already looks streamlined too.
Responded May 13, 2005 10:53AM

Hi my name is greg im looking for help on getting further on my startes and faster on my reaction. I am looking foir any hints on how to improve my startes.
Responded May 19, 2005 05:49AM

Is this the best starting position? Does it not seem a bit tense?
Responded Aug 25, 2005 08:31PM

thanks for posting this---i've been having trouble on my start, and this picture reminded me that i have to remember to lean forward more and not backward.
-----avery
Responded Oct 23, 2005 02:23PM

yap

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