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Monofn strokes

Thread Status: Hello , There was no answer in this thread for more than 60 days.
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PEAT

New Member
Feb 1, 2006
15
0
0
Hi all i'm keen to know what is a good stroke frequency with a monofin. I have been using my specialfins dolphin medium stiffness and found that i can only max out at about 12 strokes for a 25 pool this is fairly slow lap time as well, about 14 seconds. I am trying to make my stroke larger but i just dont know where to begin. The mind is willing but i just cant translate it to my body.
I can however make my times faster but this makes my stroke frequency bigger and the amplitude much smaller (ie i kick faster but smaller).
These are all dynamic laps as i do not have a front mounted snorkel yet.
Any help would be useful.
Thanks

PEAT
 
Last edited:
Hi PEAT!
I'm no great expert, just a monofin newbie who's been playing around with these variables for a few months now. I just try to change things around all the time and see what feels right, or gives me a new angle to view things from.
In u/w laps, I alternate between two arm positions: straight arms above the head like an arrowhead, or natural (at the sides or over the groin). I notice that the natural position, being more relaxed, promotes more flexibility in the torso and more fluid undulation. on the other hand, the arrowhead posture is much more hydrodynamic, and cuts about 2-3 strokes for 25m (for me), so that I usually get around 10-11 strokes with it, in a relaxed pace.

I also play around with putting glide phases in between strokes, to see how efficient they really are, and get an indication about correct posture & keeping direction & depth.

Another thing I like doing is concentrate on single elements of the stroke, like the downkick or the upkick, and then try to re-combine them together in the most fluid way I can to produce as continuous a movement as possible.

I really don't know what the best frequency is, it's probably very personal & depends on body proportions, physical shape & lots of psychology. I just try for a calm, efficient style that can carry me far with little effort & max. enjoyment.

BTW, do you do any surface drills like swimming on the left/right side, on the back, etc? The side strokes especially are good for developing a large undulation & extend your range of movement.

Also, try to get hold of Peter Pedersen's 200m WR DYF video - it's the most perfect piece of monofin dynamic you'll ever see! Search DB for it - the link floats around in several threads.

Good luck & lots of fun,

:) Ofer
 
Peat

Like Ofer said Petersen's style is considered as a reference for monofin.
There is a thread on DB which speaks about it.
To resume, during his 200m, he took about 30sec with about 27 strokes for each 50m.
 
Cheers guys. I already had the video of Petersen's 200m video but i didnt think to check out the stroke frequency. so i guess i'm not far off his stroke pattern. I wish i could say i looked like that, but i havent got a video of myself u/w. Oferdegi thanks for the tips i might try concentrating on the phases of the stroke and then try to piece it all togeather.
 
May be I will repeat the idea of the two ways to resolve the dynamic. If you have more skills has an finsswimmer you probably will do more strokes in order to get more distance in less time. In other hand if you swim as an apneist you will have more time to get distance , so you can kick slowest.

Each one must be find the best one, there are not a rule about at all..

Best regards, Luis
 
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