Ape index

[MarkkuS]

I'm new on this forum, but I have practised TI many years, but feel I have hit a plateau. I think also I'm a overglider and my ape index is -1,5.

I don't understand how a difference of a few inches of the arm span, compared with my length, can affect my optimal strokes per length or stroke rate much. If my arm span is few inches longer or shorter, the calculated optimal SPL (pool length/arm span) will not change much.

[sterlingtimes]

My "ape index" has been a life-long problem, but I have never known it as an ape index before now.

Whereas my buying of trousers has never been a problem, my arm length has caused difficulties.

In the UK, shirts are sold as 2 inches longer than normal at places like Mark & Spencer but even these are not long enough for me. T M Lewin just about does the trick with shirts 3 inches longer than normal.

My torso is also long meaning that standard T-shirts never tuck in. And all my suits are bespoke.

So I'm 5 foot 11 inches tall with a span of 6 foot four inches.

However, when it comes to swimming, I never sink. Those legs can just follow behind even when they are perfectly still.

At last, my ape index has given me an advantage in life. Hoorah!

[SolarEnergy]

I'm new on this forum, but I have practised TI many years, but feel I have hit a plateau. I think also I'm a overglider and my ape index is -1,5.

I don't understand how a difference of a few inches of the arm span, compared with my length, can affect my optimal strokes per length or stroke rate much. If my arm span is few inches longer or shorter, the calculated optimal SPL (pool length/arm span) will not change much.

In the water, the slightest difference in anything makes a huge difference in the result. That's just the way things are in the water, at least for the human attempting to swim.

Size of the hand plays a role here. I am far from being an expert in human anatomy. But there's a possibility that larger hands go along with longer arms.

The thing also is that this +something or -something is calculated in relation to your body length, IOW the length of the big thing dragging you in the water. Again there, statistically speaking, possible that longer body be also slightly bigger.

So in the end, a 6f tall body having a -1.5 ape index is equivalent to arms of a 5f10.5 guy having to pull a 6f long (and big) body.

Take a 5'10 guy having an ape index of +3. It's equivalent of the arms of a 6f1 guy having to pull the body of a 5'10 guy.

Body size, hand width, lever etc all this end up having a significant impact on potential for distance per stroke.

[sterlingtimes]

Mrs Sterling and I are both 5 foot eleven inches tall when we stand up.

When we sit side-by-side in a car, Mrs Sterling is far shorter than me.

Mrs Sterling goes to Long Tall Sally to buy jeans and trousers because her legs are so long.

I have to buy my shirts from T M Lewin (3" longer than normal) because my arms and torso are so long.

Consequently, I am top half heavy and Mrs Sterling bottom half heavy.

When I swim my legs easily come to the surface. In fact, when I glide in breast stoke, I feel my torso lower and my legs rise.

Poor old Mrs Sterling has difficulty swimming because her legs are so heavy.

When we go riding, Mrs Sterling needs to lower her stirrup leather by three holes after I have ridden. Mrs Sterling is far better balanced on a horse than me.

It stands to reason that if you put a two inches section of torso one one side of a scale together with two two inch section of arms and balance against two two inch section of legs that the torso side will weight heavier.

The longer arms are just an added benefit.

Incidentally, my fingers are ridiculously long. Even a size eleven glove is too small.

I'm really not much of a sportsman, but I seem to be well structured for water. I wish I had realised this before the age of 55.

[Paul Newsome]

Brilliant! Love it Mr Sterling!

[Spartak]

My Ape index is +1, should I increase the rate of swimming or I should copy Mr Smooth?

[SolarEnergy]

My Ape index is +1, should I increase the rate of swimming or I should copy Mr Smooth?

Well, what's your swim type?

[Spartak]

Sry, because of slow response, Its overglider (Kicktastic: 5%, Overglider: 88%, Smooth: 6%)
I can do the bilateral breathing with out any problem

[SolarEnergy]

Then as an overglider you may indeed aim at copying Mr.Smooth's style, which in the end may involve increasing the stroke rate ever so slightly anyway

Normally, the swim guide corresponding to your swim type should naturally guide you toward this transition.

In other words, no overglider trains to remain overglider.

[Nayan]

Can you use your body measurements let you work out an ideal stroke rate to target? For example I'm 5ft10 and an ape index of +3.
I've managed to haul my stroke rate to up 64 SPM using an MP3 player and I'm wondering whether to go much beyond this or to focus more on other things like drag and distance-per-stroke now.

I realise I should do a stroke rate ramp test but I havent managed to get access to the right tools yet.

[SolarEnergy]

For what it's worth, so far experience tells me that arm span/body height, ie the Ape Index is only one among several variables when comes to establishing ideal Rate/Length ratio. I've found that the Psychological factors also play a big role. I coach a 6' guy with an arm span of 6'4, and must now train him as a swinger as it seems that 2 years of trying to smoothen his stroke has led nowhere near where we should now be.