General Discussion Triathlon Talk » Are you a Spatula or an Egg-Beater? Rss Feed  
Moderators: k9car363, alicefoeller Reply
2005-04-25 9:38 PM

Extreme Veteran
323
100100100
Seoul Expat Community
Subject: Are you a Spatula or an Egg-Beater?
I've noticed two kinds of swimmers at my pool. Those I call the spatulas take the slow, gliding, long-stroke approach to swimming. I'm a spatula. I'm not fast, but I get the job done and can maintain my breathing this way. Some spatulas are very fast.

Then there are those I call the Egg-Beaters. These folks thrash at the water like there's no tomorrow - it's very noisy swimming as the hands beat the water on entry. These people are usually very good swimmers and can move along quickly, but it seems they'd eventually run out of steam.......

Which is better for endurance/triathlon racing? (I know in training, you want to mix it up) In an oly or longer race, is it better to be a spatula or an egg-beater?


2005-04-25 9:45 PM
in reply to: #148004

User image

Pro
4507
20002000500
Simpsonville, SC
Subject: RE: Are you a Spatula or an Egg-Beater?
My vote would be for the spatula. Much more efficient than thrashing in the water. Need to have some energy left for egg-beating the bicycle.

Pam
2005-04-25 9:46 PM
in reply to: #148004

Member
36
25
Subject: RE: Are you a Spatula or an Egg-Beater?
I just finished swimming about an hour ago and this fish like being was there. There was absolutely no thrashing at all and she was going WAY faster than the rest of us. She did have a pretty quick arm turnover, but it didn't take her many strokes to get across the pool.

I'm trying to become smoother, but still have a ways to go.
2005-04-25 10:22 PM
in reply to: #148004

User image

Expert
725
50010010025
Wilmington, NC
Subject: RE: Are you a Spatula or an Egg-Beater?
I absolutely LOVE your description. I watch the egg-beaters thrash by and keep telling myself that my smooth silent SLOOOOWWW strokes are better.

I believe that spatula is the way to go. Everything I've read here indicates that is the much more efficient stroke. In the end you'll outswim them all!!!
2005-04-26 9:08 AM
in reply to: #148004

User image

Philadelphia, south of New York and north of DC
Subject: RE: Are you a Spatula or an Egg-Beater?
I use to be an egg beater and have been drilling over the past months to become a spatula.

I prefer eggs over easy to scrambled any day.
2005-04-26 9:26 AM
in reply to: #148004

User image

Regular
55
2525
Lethbridge, Alberta
Subject: RE: Are you a Spatula or an Egg-Beater?
I'm not a terrible swimmer, but I've been reading a lot of stuff online about reducing times in the swim, because I'm kind of plateaued...  and everything I see says that  ultimately, fewer strokes in a quicker time = better overall results - and they suggested playing golf - adding your stroke count to seconds over 50m - right now I'm sticking around 90 or so...  so, it seems slow, strong, deliberate and efficient is the way to go.  I think while you have to admire the fortitude of an "egg-beater" over a mile or two swim, ultimately, they are probably wasting a lot of energy...


2005-04-26 9:28 AM
in reply to: #148004

User image

Master
1791
1000500100100252525
Raleigh, North Carolina
Subject: RE: Are you a Spatula or an Egg-Beater?

IMO...Egg beaters are wasting needless energy with all the flailing around.  A spatula will take out an egg beater any day.  Being a spatula is not equivalent to being slow in the water.  Its possible and practical for a spatula to crank it out....watch Ian Thorpe swim. 

For a short little sprint (25-100y race) then the rules are slightly different, but in tri's we're talking endurance here...750y to 2.5 miles.  A nice efficient stroke that can endure distance will leave you raring to go for the bike and run to come.

2005-04-26 9:41 AM
in reply to: #148004

Master
1315
1000100100100
Shreveport, LA
Subject: RE: Are you a Spatula or an Egg-Beater?
I am an inefficient egg-beater.

I would like to be an efficient Spatula.
2005-04-26 11:14 AM
in reply to: #148004

User image

Buttercup
14334
500050002000200010010010025
Subject: RE: Are you a Spatula or an Egg-Beater?
I watched 2 triathlons in the last 2 weeks, paying close attention to the swim event. Even from a distance, you can see that the leaders kept their heads down (very little looking UP for sighting) and cut through the water with little splash.
2005-04-26 11:59 AM
in reply to: #148004

User image

Veteran
249
10010025
Cypress, Tx
Subject: RE: Are you a Spatula or an Egg-Beater?
I'm a spatula...but there is an egg beater at my pool that pisses me off....he's so fast and makes so much noise and waves it annoys me..it shouldn't work but it does.

2005-04-26 12:30 PM
in reply to: #148004

User image

Extreme Veteran
476
100100100100252525
San Jose, CA
Subject: RE: Are you a Spatula or an Egg-Beater?
definately a spatula.

I swim at the local collage. Lots of stapping, young lads who can go fast and hard, but burn out after a few pulls.

Me? nice easy 1500m main set, don't slow down, don't speed up.



2005-04-26 12:32 PM
in reply to: #148004

User image

Veteran
240
10010025
Austin, TX
Subject: RE: Are you a Spatula or an Egg-Beater?
How in the hell did you come up with that analogy? That's just awesome. Well I guess I'm a spatula and a very slow one at that.
2005-04-26 12:42 PM
in reply to: #148004

User image

Expert
1274
10001001002525
Jackson, Mississippi
Subject: RE: Are you a Spatula or an Egg-Beater?
No doubt a spatula..

but.. my problem is that the longer I go the more egg-beater i become.. maybe not thrashing and splashing but my stroke certaintly becomes less tight.. I guess I have more swimming to do.. if my shoulder would only stop hurting..

oh well... i'll just go ride me new bike where I know for sure that I am a meat grinder
2005-04-26 12:44 PM
in reply to: #148004

User image

Elite
2706
2000500100100
Hurst, Texas
Subject: RE: Are you a Spatula or an Egg-Beater?
I'm a spatula-in-training.  But like Cmikul, I also have an egg beater at my pool, and he is very fast, and seems to be able to swim forever despite the constant slapping and thrashing.  It drives me crazy!
2005-04-26 12:51 PM
in reply to: #148004

User image

Master
2033
200025
Subject: RE: Are you a Spatula or an Egg-Beater?
I think I am one of those hybrid spatula-beaters, I am smoother than many people in my but if I stop thinking about it I will revert to the old habits and get sloppy... I dont leave a rooster tail behind me, but I am not as smooth as I would like to be. So I guess you could say with me there is about a 20% chance your yolk will get broken! I guess thats better than 6 months ago when there was a 100% chance!
2005-04-26 1:56 PM
in reply to: #148004

User image

Veteran
317
100100100
Atlanta
Subject: RE: Are you a Spatula or an Egg-Beater?
I start out as a spatula, because I'm thinking smooth, smooth, smooth. But then I revert to my ugly egg beater habits. And I get slower.


2005-04-26 1:59 PM
in reply to: #148004

User image

Veteran
120
100
Dallas, TX
Subject: RE: Are you a Spatula or an Egg-Beater?
I swam competively in H.S. and continued recreationally in College. There are a lot of really fast Egg-Beaters out there. But an Egg-Beater would never beat a Spatula in any distance over 100 m/yds. Now if your a Spatula and can beat the Egg-Beater in a 50 or 100, you are awesome!
New Thread
General Discussion Triathlon Talk » Are you a Spatula or an Egg-Beater? Rss Feed