Thoughts on swimming fast from Dr. Ernie Maglischo (Ernie is one of the brightest minds in the world of swimming)

For anyone interested in what is behind how swimming technique is taught.  It's advanced information htat would not be appropriate to communicate to WHITE and RED level swimmers, but is the thinking much of what we teach; even to beginning swimmers.

Dr. Maglischo is one of the most respected coaches and researchers in the world of swimming, so I am choosing to share this introduction to his latest book for anyone who may have asked a question about why we teach certain things to our swimmers.

"It has been 12 years since I published Swimming Fastest. Ideas on stroke mechanics have changed considerably during that time. The notion that lift forces play a larger role in propulsion than do drag forces has lost momentum during the past two decades. This, I believe, has been a “step in the right direction”, despite some opinions to the contrary.

"At the same time there are several researchers throughout the world, using some very sophisticated techniques in an attempt to show that the creation and shedding of vortexes also plays an important role in swimming propulsion. Despite my previous opposition to concepts of vortex propulsion, the work of these researchers has caused me to reconsider the roles that vortex creation and vortex shedding may play in swimming propulsion.

"However, many who share my opinion have wrongly interpreted this assertion to mean that swimmers should stroke almost directly backward with nearly extended arms, which has been a step backward in time to the old “push straight back to go straight forward” notion of the mid20th. century. Actually, the arms and legs can deliver propulsive force over a longer period when they travel in three-dimensional curvilinear patterns. Consequently, a main purpose of this text is to explain the seeming inconsistency between the belief that drag is the principle propulsive force in swimming propulsion and the observable event that swimmers stroke patterns are curvilinear.

"The first two chapters are devoted to a review of hydrodynamic precepts as they apply to reducing water resistance and increasing propulsive force in order to explain this seeming inconsistency.

"My second purpose in writing this book was to describe, what I believe, is the major propulsive mechanism swimmers use. That is shoulder adduction. Others have variously alluded to this method of stroking as “the early vertical forearm (EFV), and the “open arm pit” style of swimming. However, these designations miss the essence of the propelling mechanism. I touched on shoulder adduction in Swimming Fastest, and have since become even more convinced of its value for propelling swimmers through the water.

"I am well aware that what I just said seems to be at variance with the results of some very fine research by Drs.Von Loebbecke, and Mittal of Johns Hopkins University (2015). However, I will describe why and how, despite their conclusions, curvilinear stroking and shoulder adduction are the preferred propulsive mechanisms used by the majority of elite swimmers in all four competitive strokes.

"Another purpose in writing this book was to comment on many of the “fads” and misconceptions that populate the literature and conversation about stroke mechanics in our sport. In particular, the notion that hip rotation is a source of propulsion. I believe this misconception has “run its course”, or soon will do so. Nevertheless, it is still a very popular concept in much of the world. Please do not misinterpret what I just wrote. Hip rotation, or body roll, is a major feature of the long-axis strokes; the front and back crawl. However, it is not a source of propulsion except that, if not over- or under-done, it will reduce water resistance and, therefore, increase the propulsive force delivered by the arms and legs.

"I also take exception to the idea that swimmers should hold their breath in races. The oxygen consumed during races is a major deterrent to fatigue in all races, except those that are 50 yards or meters in length and less. It is my opinion that breathing should not be restricted in longer events except in the most unusual of circumstances. I’m speaking of situations where an individual swimmer’s breathing mechanics seriously disrupt their velocity or when, as in underwater dolphin kicking, their speed can exceed that of surface speed.

"Another misconception, I will deal with in these chapters is the notion that symmetry is more desired than asymmetry in all strokes. As you will see, many, if not most, elite athletes swim somewhat asymmetrically in the four competitive strokes.

"To a lesser extent, I intend to deal with ideology that recommends such techniques as flat dives and turns with no twist, until after swimmers leave the wall; pulling out of turns with the underneath arm; and holding one’s breath until after the first stroke out of turns."

Dr. Maglischo is a brilliant thinker and even when he advises a particular training concept or technique he remains open to further evidence and possibilities.  I first met "Ernie" about 40 years ago at the USASwimming Coaches College and have remained in touch with him ever since. 

Ernie gained a following in the coaching world when, as coach of multiple NCAA D-2 Champion teams at Oakland University he wrote his first book "Swimming Fast" (at the time he was a big proponant of lift propulsion and did analysis of stokes using vector analysis) and a few years later he doubled down with his second book "Swimming Faster".

Sometime after Ernie was lecturing at the ASCA World Clinic about "Lift Propulsion" and a coach from Canada (I believe it was Cecil Colwin) challenged him on his lift-dominant propulsion concept and insisting drag propulsion was the dominant for in swimming propulsion. 

Rather than taking exception to Coach Colwin interrupting his lecture, I remember Ernie pausing in thought and then saying "You are making a great point, I'm going to look into that."

A couple years later Ernie published his third (massive) book "Swimming Even Faster" where he basically said 'I was wrong about lift propulsion and I now believe, and my research is showing, that drag is the dominant force, for most strokes (Breaststroke may be 50/50), in swimming propulsion.'

I realize that all of this may be a little deep in the weeds for most, but if you read this far it my hope that this article, like Cecil Colwin's challenge to Ernie, got you thinking.

And, yes these concepts apply to, and are behind the teaching of, every swimmer from the beginner to the national champion.