About the STGRID
The STGRID is a patented measurement tool that allows swim mechanics instruction to be articulated in measurable terms rather than the vague verbal cues historically and presently used. The grid is used in conjunction with underwater cameras that film a swimmer’s stroke. All movements throughout the swim stroke are measured against the grid.
The key to the STGRID is the establishment of technique standards by collecting data from Olympic swimmers’ strokes. While not every elite swimming stroke is exactly like another, the movements fall within a tight set of parameters. The STGRID outlines the parameters so aspiring swimmers can adjust their mechanics with certainty and confidence.
The Need for the STGRID
Swimming is a complex three-dimensional sport, with depth components in addition to lateral and fore-aft components, yet there are no reference points to these dimensions in a mass of water. The movements made by swimmers are viewed against a nebulous backdrop.
Swim coaches should be offering specific mechanical instruction to maximize their athletes’ performance, but the medium in which the sport is contested leaves them with choices of coaching instruction as vague as water itself.
For instance, if a coach says, “make a deep catch,” then how does a swimmer know what is deep enough, or what is too deep? Should the swimmer think about the hand, elbow, or shoulder when considering the depth? The uncertainty leaves too much room for misinterpretation and thus too much potential on the table. The STGRID replaces the uncertainty and vagueness with specific instruction and full understanding.
If you’d like to learn more about the STGRID, Contact Us.
