How do you define the “Catch phase of Front Crawl”? Is it one or all of the following:
How do you define the “Catch phase of Front Crawl”? Is it one or all of the following:
o Feel for the water? o When it all feels right? o Holding the water o A purchase on the water
The catch phase is basically the point from which your arm is straight and gliding following entry into the water. From this point to the point where your hand and elbow are directly underneath your shoulder joint, this is the catch phase.
Why is it important I hear you ask...?
Well, if you aren't performing the catch phase effectively, then you'll be either slipping through the water, from moving too fast, having too straight an arm, twisting or turning the palm of your hand or your forearm so you're then pushing water in a direction away from moving straight behind you. You want to be doing this with a really high elbow set position as you can see in the diagram above, a good head position whereby you're looking down not forwards
Some of the errors (known or unknown) that can affect how solid your catch is, are as follows:
• Slipping through the water • Snatching in the catch with too much power • Pointing your hands up on entry • Hands veering in towards the midline or too wide • Arms staying too straight in the catch • Elbows not bending enough • Forearms not at the correct 90 degree angle • Elbows winging in towards the body
So how do you perform the catch correctly for maximum purchase on the water? Your goals for an excellent and effective catch phase are:
1. A high and early vertical forearm (EVF) position
2. Keep your lead arm up high in the water on entry
3. Reach over a barrel and push it behind you
4. Pivot at the elbow keeping upper arm up high
5. Perform the catch slower than the rest of the underwater stroke
6. Bend your elbow to 90 degrees
Find out exactly what you need to be focusing on with your front crawl technique with 4 video cameras analysing your swim stroke in the endless pool in Chertsey, KT16 9NH
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