What is everyones take on the “Speed Chutes”, I know alot of people recommend using a sled or the Prowler instead of the chute , but I am a little short on cash :S
So what do you guys think? Is it still beneficial in improving speed? Does it allow for enough resistance to help me? Or am i just better off making my own sled?
The product I am talking about is this one that is sold on Elitefts.com
http://www.flexcart.com/members/elitefts/default.asp?m=PD&cid=114&pid=2509
[quote]dmulak wrote:
What is everyones take on the “Speed Chutes”, I know alot of people recommend using a sled or the Prowler instead of the chute , but I am a little short on cash :S
So what do you guys think? Is it still beneficial in improving speed? Does it allow for enough resistance to help me? Or am i just better off making my own sled?
The product I am talking about is this one that is sold on Elitefts.com
http://www.flexcart.com/members/elitefts/default.asp?m=PD&cid=114&pid=2509
[/quote]
Shockey uses one.
I’d have to advise you against using either sleds or chutes when trying to build speed. Sleds are only beneficial to acceleration development when pulling a load that increases your time by less than 10%, so going heavy is not the thing to do. And chutes can be blown about erratically by the wind and this will mess up mechanics. Not only that, but as you go faster, it applies more resistance. This will train you incorrectly.
If you want to get faster then save your money. Get stronger, stay light, and sprint at full speed on a regular basis.
Dmulak,
If you’re looking to resistance for your sprints and speed enhancement, a good cheap way is to find a nice hill and do sprints varying from 10-40m at full intensity with complete recovery. No cost at all for hill sprints.
This will also instill proper acceleration mechanics by forcing your body into the forward lean needed to accelerate properly and most efficiently.
Just because Shockey uses one doesn’t mean its good lol. Shockey is in the NFL, he could do anything and still be a freak.
tie yourself to a tire and throw some weight on it and drag it around.
speed chutes mess up your acceleration and sprinting mechanics so i wouldn’t use them, even though some pros claim to use them.
IMO the sled is the choice over the chute for the reasons mentioned by others in this forum. I suggest you pick-up a copy of Mike Boyle’s “Sled Dawg” DVD and web search his article on sled training. He has a different opinion on the loading that can be used on a sled and still improve speed.
Also, go to ebay and search “dragging sled”. If the seller is legit, he has a very well-built device he sells for $125 (shipping included) with straps. And remember, you can make a “sled” w/o spending a lot of money.
Although they’re easy to transport to any training site, the chutes are faddish. They keep coming on to the market every 5- 10 years. I first saw them in 1980s when one of the “Soviet” training secrets trainers, “Tabachnik” I think his name is, touted them.
I have a chute and have been using for years. I don’t really think it helps with top speed so much, but for me it’s just a great variation of a regular sprint and I enjoy it. It’s also a great conversation starter. When I was using it on the beach one year I had a lot people come up and talk to me about my training. I agree with the use of hills for sprint training and overload. The stadium that I run my sprints at has hills behind it in varying slopes. I recommend a very gentle slope that will allow you to overload your hams and glutes without altering your stride. But I also like the steeper slopes for conditioning work.