BIOMECHANICAL PERSPECTIVE OF SWIM DIVING
Centre of Gravity
Centre of gravity is an important factor that needs to be considered in answering the question on which swim dive is better as it allows us to understand how the centre of gravity plays a role in weight distribution. According to McGinnis (2005) “Centre of gravity is the point in a body or system around which it’s mass or weight is evenly distributed or balanced and through which the force of gravity acts”. This can be used in comparing both dives as the weight distribution differs between the two dives. With the grab start the centre of gravity is more in front of the body and base support which may cause issues with stability as the body is already leaning forward into the dive. The track start’s centre of gravity is more at the centre of the block allowing the swimmer to shift the body mass back and forth to create more force.
The more momentum and force in which is created the more efficient the dive can be. The track start may be more beneficial biomechanically due to the larger action that is created. The track start allows more force and momentum to occur, resulting in the body to forward more efficiently and increasing impulse and acceleration in the dive. The grab start is less restricting as it only allows a swimmer to fall back slightly creating less force and momentum creating more of a falling motion approach. This may be due to the base support that the grab start allows for.
Centre of gravity is an important factor that needs to be considered in answering the question on which swim dive is better as it allows us to understand how the centre of gravity plays a role in weight distribution. According to McGinnis (2005) “Centre of gravity is the point in a body or system around which it’s mass or weight is evenly distributed or balanced and through which the force of gravity acts”. This can be used in comparing both dives as the weight distribution differs between the two dives. With the grab start the centre of gravity is more in front of the body and base support which may cause issues with stability as the body is already leaning forward into the dive. The track start’s centre of gravity is more at the centre of the block allowing the swimmer to shift the body mass back and forth to create more force.
The more momentum and force in which is created the more efficient the dive can be. The track start may be more beneficial biomechanically due to the larger action that is created. The track start allows more force and momentum to occur, resulting in the body to forward more efficiently and increasing impulse and acceleration in the dive. The grab start is less restricting as it only allows a swimmer to fall back slightly creating less force and momentum creating more of a falling motion approach. This may be due to the base support that the grab start allows for.