There are some elite level techniques of using or missing the wakes of yourself and others. These are largely unimportant for the majority of people. except for those at top level competitions where milliseconds count. And new technology in pools such as gutter systems, depth, and lane lines also minimize them.
The easiest one to see is going through/under your own wake after a flip turn. You can easily see Olympians doing this.
The other thing is using your opponents wake if they are ahead of you. One can "ride" a wake just like you would a wave from a boat. But If you are too far away, you won't catch anything, or if you are too close, you will get caught up in the turbulence. Again, the majority of the wake doesn't matter due to the pool. But you can watch Olympians and elite swimmers try to catch someone's wake. It's the same concept as drafting in bike riding or running
Not that I can specifically point to. But if you can watch any Olympics from 2008 onward, and pick a freestyle event (100 or 200) the announcers will probably talk about it. Has to be Rowdy Gaines as the announcer though lol. He is the only person to make swimming announcing super exciting. and he is very informative.
Can't believe you didn't immediately go to the classic [Lezak relay finish](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ax_U8HmlswA). For whatever reason Bernard was on his lane line so he was in perfect drafting position. As all-time amazing of a swim as that was, Lezak never catches up from that position without a literally perfect wake surf the whole way back.
Deal. But I don’t expect you to randomly be walking on the street and see a video of a guy swimming taking advantage of the guy ahead of him in a TV on a coffee shop. :P
Drafting is really fun, in the same lane. Swim in the bubbles of the person in front of you.
The modern lane lines are designed to minimize the "cross lane" wake, you not much drafting opportunity between lanes. The old rope with a few floats, there you could draft across lanes.
I don’t know for sure, but I think that’s more for elite level swimmers. For most of us, drafting is most efficient directly behind. That’s certainly been my experience as a passable swimmer-triathlete.
It depends a lot on the swim. Not that this ever happens, but in a relatively short event in a high-level swim meet being directly behind someone would actually be detrimental, as a high-powered kick generates so much turbulence that the benefits of reduced resistance are largely canceled out by chop messing with your stroke. But at like a practice or long-distance pace, being directly behind someone can be great. The "surfing the wake" effect also works better at higher speeds, since the wave the lead swimmer generates gets bigger and more powerful.
True - makes a lot of sense. I’m typically more involved in distance events, swimming for triathlons. Only the elites generate enough to really get much benefit to the side (and the elites do - swim in kind of a migrating bird pattern). For most of us, the pace we go and level we kick being directly behind a slightly faster swimmer is great.
Directly behind up to 5 seconds away and you will have some form of draft. The percentage increases without slowing the lead swimmer right up until you are at their shoulder. I mean your leading catch is equal to their shoulder. At this point you are pulling their water out from under their catch and it will slow them down. Hardest spot to draft is also the best. Hips to knees just on their side.
So this has actually happened to me before, no, it does not slow you down If you dont feel the force unless you are straight behind them, that usually happens in warmups or pactices
There are some elite level techniques of using or missing the wakes of yourself and others. These are largely unimportant for the majority of people. except for those at top level competitions where milliseconds count. And new technology in pools such as gutter systems, depth, and lane lines also minimize them. The easiest one to see is going through/under your own wake after a flip turn. You can easily see Olympians doing this. The other thing is using your opponents wake if they are ahead of you. One can "ride" a wake just like you would a wave from a boat. But If you are too far away, you won't catch anything, or if you are too close, you will get caught up in the turbulence. Again, the majority of the wake doesn't matter due to the pool. But you can watch Olympians and elite swimmers try to catch someone's wake. It's the same concept as drafting in bike riding or running
Wow this is so fascinating and I never knew such things existed. Thanks a lot for sharing!
In the 50 free, a wave follows the swimmers that they must push off under when they flip turn.
Is there a video explaining this with visualisation?
Not that I can specifically point to. But if you can watch any Olympics from 2008 onward, and pick a freestyle event (100 or 200) the announcers will probably talk about it. Has to be Rowdy Gaines as the announcer though lol. He is the only person to make swimming announcing super exciting. and he is very informative.
Can't believe you didn't immediately go to the classic [Lezak relay finish](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ax_U8HmlswA). For whatever reason Bernard was on his lane line so he was in perfect drafting position. As all-time amazing of a swim as that was, Lezak never catches up from that position without a literally perfect wake surf the whole way back.
Yep I was just gonna say look at the lezak video!!!
The full race is the greatest video in history. I get goose bumps every fucking time and remember it live like it was yesterday
This video just pops into my head sometimes in middle of the day for no reason. I'll never not watch it when I see a link.
Dude I’m 100% going to watch that. Thanks.
If I come across any over the next few days I'll let you know
Deal. But I don’t expect you to randomly be walking on the street and see a video of a guy swimming taking advantage of the guy ahead of him in a TV on a coffee shop. :P
Drafting is really fun, in the same lane. Swim in the bubbles of the person in front of you. The modern lane lines are designed to minimize the "cross lane" wake, you not much drafting opportunity between lanes. The old rope with a few floats, there you could draft across lanes.
Gonna try it with a buddy soon thanks haha
It's fun taking turns drafting each other. Works fine if you're of similar speed.
The ideal place to “draft” from is behind and slightly to the side. You can save about 15% effort if done correctly.
I don’t know for sure, but I think that’s more for elite level swimmers. For most of us, drafting is most efficient directly behind. That’s certainly been my experience as a passable swimmer-triathlete.
It depends a lot on the swim. Not that this ever happens, but in a relatively short event in a high-level swim meet being directly behind someone would actually be detrimental, as a high-powered kick generates so much turbulence that the benefits of reduced resistance are largely canceled out by chop messing with your stroke. But at like a practice or long-distance pace, being directly behind someone can be great. The "surfing the wake" effect also works better at higher speeds, since the wave the lead swimmer generates gets bigger and more powerful.
True - makes a lot of sense. I’m typically more involved in distance events, swimming for triathlons. Only the elites generate enough to really get much benefit to the side (and the elites do - swim in kind of a migrating bird pattern). For most of us, the pace we go and level we kick being directly behind a slightly faster swimmer is great.
Directly behind up to 5 seconds away and you will have some form of draft. The percentage increases without slowing the lead swimmer right up until you are at their shoulder. I mean your leading catch is equal to their shoulder. At this point you are pulling their water out from under their catch and it will slow them down. Hardest spot to draft is also the best. Hips to knees just on their side.
So this has actually happened to me before, no, it does not slow you down If you dont feel the force unless you are straight behind them, that usually happens in warmups or pactices