Swim - Strokes Per Length (SPL)

Does anyone know if the number is the same for males and females? More upper body translate into more distance per stroke = fewer strokes?  Or am I just looking for excuses here?

I counted my SPL this  morning and it is still 22 at my very best and can range up to 26 - and I need to get to 18??  How discouraging.

To count properly am I correct in assuming there is very little push off time from the wall and the stroke starts immediately?

I haven't read anywhere that the SPL is different for males and females.  It seems that the SPL should be less for females due to the weaker upper body strength.  On the other hand, females have a smaller frame (less drag) and lighter wieght so this should compensate for the weaker upper body.

On counting SPL, I think it's important to be consistent in how you count SPL.  I push off as normal, count, flip turn, count and then divide by 2 to get SPL for 25 m. 

BTW...my SPL is stuck at 22.  Can't seem to get it to move.

My normal SPL has been 25 in a 25 yd pool, I learned the other day...AAAAARRRRGGG!  So this morning I tried to slow it down, got it down to 21 SPL just by trying to glide farther on each stroke.  It only took a few seconds off of my 50 yd time so that's not too bad, but it was HARD!  I felt like I was working so much harder than normal and my HR was up (altho I do have a cold).  I don't think I could keep it up for more than a couple hundred yards without a break.

But winter is coming=lots of pool time for me.

I guess that makes sense about the upper body strength being compensated by the smaller body - oh well, that just means I have more work to do then! I have fallen into a swim routine and need to shake it up a bit.  Good link Zia Cyclist - thanks.

I agree Cindy about the harder work - when I'm really focused on stretching the reach and pulling hard through the water, and going fast - I have to limit it to 50m or 100m set, then a 50m relaxed set and repeat....  Ps- hope your cold disappears soon

I have found that if I "glide" longer in the water before my breathing stroke, I can reduce my SPL's and not sacrifice on time.  This is useful since it reduces my energy output to travel the same distance in the water, thus saving my strength for the bike/run.  When I get tired in the open water, I will lengthen my glide, where the left arm in outstretched and my right hand is down by my side.  It is momentary, but that little pause gives me time to rest and take advantage of a very efficient position in the water.  I have to precede that glide with a good, strong catch and pull with that right arm so that I have some momentum to carry me through the glide.

I've based this on the principle that lengthening a body in the water will increase its efficiency.  For instance, if you push off the wall with your arms pointed straight out in front of you, you'll go farther by about 10-20% than you will if you push off with your arms at your side.  Increasing the time in the glide position, with one arm outstretched, takes advantage of this streamlined position and will naturally reduce my SPL's.

On my swim today, I realized that I gave out incorrect info in my post above...the glide actually takes place after my breathing stroke.  After breathing on my RHS, my left arm does the "power pull"with my right arm extended out in front.  That's when I glide as long as I can maintain momentum before starting the next pull with my right hand.  I counted my strokes in the pool today and when I was fresh, they were between 12 and 14...at the end of the swim when I was very tired (I swam 3600 yards), they were between 16 and 18.