Relationship between different push-off variables and start performance in experienced swimmers

AbstractThe objective of this study was to determine the relationship between different variables measured with a force plate during the swimming start push-off phase and start performance presented by times to 5, 10 and 15 m. Twenty-one women from the Slovenian national swimming team performed two different swim starts (freestyle and undulatory) on a portable force plate to a distance further than 15 m. Correlations between push-off variables and times to 5, 10 and 15 m were quantified through Pearson's product-moment correlation coefficient (r). The variables that significantly correlated (p < .05) to all times measured in the two starts performed were: average horizontal acceleration (freestyle: r = −0.58 to −0.71; and undulatory: r = −0.55 to −0.66), horizontal take-off velocity (freestyle: r = −0.56 to −0.69; and undulatory: r = −0.53 to −0.67) and resultant take-off velocity (freestyle: r = −0.53 to −0.65; and undulatory: r = −0.52 to −0.61). None of the variables derived from the vertical force wer...