how do you tell if you are a power sprinter or a flexible sprinter?
type of sprinter
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Member
based on the fact that you don't feel like you're using your arms, this leads me to believe that you have little arm drive and the fact that you have good knee drive also leads me to believe you're more the prancer type….kind of like a JJ Johnson or Tim Montgomery.
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Participant
whats the difference between a power sprinter and flexible sprinter?
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Member
I think it's more or less a pshychological thing as it has to do with form.
Tim Montgomery – Flexible sprinter. He tippy-toes it down the track and runs really light-footed and seems like he's bouncing down the track.
Mo Greene – One of the greatest power-sprinters. You can see the power in every step and it almost seems like he's stomping down the track. Big strides.
One things I've noticed is that one of the biggest ways to tell the difference between a power sprinter and a flexible sprinter is body composition. You notice how Mo is a pretty big guy and Tim is actually quite little (actually about my size – 5-10, 160).
Would someone else like to help me here because I don't really know the scientific way to explain the difference? Mike?
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KeymasterI personally don't think it's necessarily a good idea to classify sprinters but I think that visually, people who are considered "power" sprinters tend to have slightly less stride frequency than those who are considered "flexible" or "finesse" sprinters. The differences however in stride lengths and frequencies among elite short sprinters is extremely small.
ELITETRACK Founder
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Member
That's true Prophet. But, a lot of times power sprinters want the long, hard spike plate and "finesse" sprinters like lighterweight, more flexible spike plates. So, if you classify yourself as either then you might be a bit more specific in getting spikes to fit your running style.
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Participant
If u r power sprinter ur stride will be legnthy but stride frequency will be low.but flexible sprinter use low ground contact time.
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Member
I agree that power sprinters have a much longer stride and their turnover rate is usually slower than that of a "finesse" sprinter, but I do not agree with your second statement. "Finesse" sprinters, because of their lower power output, would have longer GCT due to lower RFD because of the lack of power put into each stride.
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Participant
hey guys,im from new york i run the 300 ,sprint relay(200 meters each) and im in the long jump.i am having a problem with picking out shoes.i never wore spikes in any of my races and my coach tells me that they will take alot off my time.my coach was trying to tell me that there two different types of shoes, the power plate and the flexable plate.my question is can you guys help me pick between the two plates
when i sprint i use very long and light strikes and i use alot of work with my arms.
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Participant
Which type of runners use power plates and which use flexible plates?
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Keymaster
Several studies have indicated that use of a hard plate results in faster sprint times over short distances. Because of this, I think they would be used by both short sprinters and hurdlers regardless of whatever classification of sprinter one chooses to put the athlete into. If for whatever reason the runner had a disliking to the hard plate though I really don't think it would make that much difference whether they used a hard plate over a flexible one.
ELITETRACK Founder
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Participant
mike, when you say resulting to faster times over shorter distances, how short? Do you mean short like 55/60m? Or do you mean for the normal 100/200/Short Hurdler?
And also, if you dont think it would make much of a difference then when and why would you recommend one over the other?
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Keymaster
[i]Originally posted by DaGovernor[/i]
mike, when you say resulting to faster times over shorter distances, how short? Do you mean short like 55/60m? Or do you mean for the normal 100/200/Short Hurdler?I'm not certain as I don't have the studies in front of me but I want to say the distances tested were about 40m. I've never seen anything testing various spike plates over longer distances but the results of the studies I mentioned would at least indicate that a hard spike plate is beneficial for acceleration. As such, it may be of use for all events 200m and down including the short hurdles and also the 400m IH because of the need to accelerate initially and then re-accelerate after every hurdle clearance.
And also, if you dont think it would make much of a difference then when and why would you recommend one over the other?
The only reason I pointed out it wouldn't make a big difference is because it seems many people seem overly concerned over sprint spikes when in fact they are kind of like nutritional supplements…….they are almost certainly never going to be the determining factor in a race and shouldn't be a big concern until you know everything else (diet, training, rest, etc.) is right. Having the right spike may help performance but fast people will run fast regardless of what they have on their feet.
ELITETRACK Founder
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Member
[i]Originally posted by mike[/i]
The only reason I pointed out it wouldn't make a big difference is because it seems many people seem overly concerned over sprint spikes when in fact they are kind of like nutritional supplements…….they are almost certainly never going to be the determining factor in a race and shouldn't be a big concern until you know everything else (diet, training, rest, etc.) is right. Having the right spike may help performance but fast people will run fast regardless of what they have on their feet.I like that statement. Well said.
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Participant
I agree. . . well said. Thanks.
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Participant
the only time i think the type of plate matters is in the long distances.i do the mile sometime and i usally use my adidas lightsprints.last week i forgot my light sprints and i had to use my powersprints.my time was horrable and my feet hurt.the flexable plate feels better for distarnce
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Participant
i have another question , if powersprinters hit the ground hard wouldent that take more energy to run long sprints.and also if flexable sprinters just tap the track wouldent they run fast times because the spend less time on the track the powersprinters?????
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Member
[i]Originally posted by jimmy38[/i]
i have another question , if powersprinters hit the ground hard wouldent that take more energy to run long sprints.and also if flexable sprinters just tap the track wouldent they run fast times because the spend less time on the track the powersprinters?????Actually "flexible" sprinters spend more time on the track becuase of decreased power output and RFD.
Power sprinters have more power output and more RFD so they get longer more powerful strides and that power helps keep them off the ground rather than on it.
Someone like mike can get more into the (bio)physics of all that.
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Participant
This all gets very confusing to me. I have always considered myself a flexible sprinter…I feel like I tip toe down the track. Almost as if I'm floating and barely touch the ground.
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Keymaster
[i]Originally posted by jimmy38[/i]
i have another question , if powersprinters hit the ground hard wouldent that take more energy to run long sprints.and also if flexable sprinters just tap the track wouldent they run fast times because the spend less time on the track the powersprinters?????As I said previously I don't really think there is any value or merit in confining a sprinter to any category, be it finesse, power, flexible, or whatever. Having said that, "power" sprinters (as it is being defined here) would indeed put more force into the track but they would typically do so in equal to or less time than the "flexible" or "finesse" sprinter. They would be able to run as fast as the "flexible" or "finesse" sprinter with fewer strides because they would travel greater distances during each flight phase due to the greater impulse they put into the ground during ground contact.
ELITETRACK Founder
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