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Post by bigfanofbigfan on Oct 8, 2015 9:55:44 GMT -5
Preseason #22 Southern Cal will play @ Colorado and Utah this week. I have heard about how the high elevation affects the game as far as conditioning and ball trajectory is concerned..Is it true or just a myth? A feedback from those who have actually experienced playing at the high altitude would be great.
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Post by mikegarrison on Oct 8, 2015 9:59:32 GMT -5
Short answer: balls fly further and straighter in thinner air.
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Post by bigfanofbigfan on Oct 8, 2015 10:02:26 GMT -5
Short answer: balls fly further and straighter in thinner air. Enough to make a difference? BTW, hope you are all good now. |
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Post by ciscokeed on Oct 8, 2015 10:04:46 GMT -5
Balls fly approx 10% further. Really affects jump serving and back row attacks. Even bothers free ball passing-easy to pass too tight. Elevation was considered a huge disadvantage during our years of training in Colorado Springs
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Post by sevb on Oct 8, 2015 10:18:36 GMT -5
Both are issues... it is no myth
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Post by Deleted on Oct 8, 2015 10:18:29 GMT -5
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Post by Wolfgang on Oct 8, 2015 10:20:36 GMT -5
I don't know about balls -- although the extra flight distance makes sense -- but I felt the effects during runs. The first time I visited Fort Collins, CO (altitude approx. 5,000 ft), I ran on an outdoor track and I felt slightly tired and a bit winded after a couple of laps (that's 0.5 mile). This was not normal for me because I had been running at sea level (altitude 0.00 ft) for many years prior to that time. Oddly enough, when I ran indoors at the CSU rec center, I didn't feel the same way. I'm not sure if it had anything to do with the air conditioning and the more concentrated oxygen levels (I'm guessing) indoors. It could be my imagination but running indoors in Colorado was way easier than running outdoors in Colorado -- even under ideal weather conditions (70 degrees F, no wind, no sun, no rain, no snow).
By the way, I think Terry Pettit has retired to Fort Collins. Not 100% sure.
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Post by dorothymantooth on Oct 8, 2015 10:24:22 GMT -5
I don't know about balls -- although the extra flight distance makes sense -- but I felt the effects during runs. The first time I visited Fort Collins, CO (altitude approx. 5,000 ft), I ran on an outdoor track and I felt slightly tired and a bit winded after a couple of laps (that's 0.5 mile). This was not normal for me because I had been running at sea level (altitude 0.00 ft) for many years prior to that time. Oddly enough, when I ran indoors at the CSU rec center, I didn't feel the same way. I'm not sure if it had anything to do with the air conditioning and the more concentrated oxygen levels (I'm guessing) indoors. It could be my imagination but running indoors in Colorado was way easier than running outdoors in Colorado -- even under ideal weather conditions (70 degrees F, no wind, no sun, no rain, no snow). By the way, I think Terry Pettit has retired to Fort Collins. Not 100% sure. TP has been in Ft. Collins since his retirement mostly so he can hit a golf ball farther. |
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Post by coloradokidd on Oct 8, 2015 11:03:02 GMT -5
I don't know about balls -- although the extra flight distance makes sense -- but I felt the effects during runs. The first time I visited Fort Collins, CO (altitude approx. 5,000 ft), I ran on an outdoor track and I felt slightly tired and a bit winded after a couple of laps (that's 0.5 mile). This was not normal for me because I had been running at sea level (altitude 0.00 ft) for many years prior to that time. Oddly enough, when I ran indoors at the CSU rec center, I didn't feel the same way. I'm not sure if it had anything to do with the air conditioning and the more concentrated oxygen levels (I'm guessing) indoors. It could be my imagination but running indoors in Colorado was way easier than running outdoors in Colorado -- even under ideal weather conditions (70 degrees F, no wind, no sun, no rain, no snow). By the way, I think Terry Pettit has retired to Fort Collins. Not 100% sure. TP has been in Ft. Collins since his retirement mostly so he can hit a golf ball farther.  |
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Post by coloradokidd on Oct 8, 2015 11:23:17 GMT -5
I remember when visiting teams would come to Mile-Hi to play the Broncos. The visiting players would be on their bench wearing oxygen masks trying to catch a breath - especially the big linemen. If I remember right ; it takes 1-2 days for your body to adjust it's red/white cell count in order to capture more oxygen. *Also: Regarding sports - I remember using the "high altitude" tennis balls. Not a good sport to play high altitude and try to adjust to sea level.  |
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Post by codigger on Oct 8, 2015 11:51:30 GMT -5
There are a couple of ways I have experienced the High altitude vs Low altitude in volleyball. The 11% greater carry on distance is well documented in sports such as golf and baseball. The second aspect of the altitude/lighter air is that ball flights that are determined by spin are not as strong in high altitude/dry air as seen in Colorado. In golf, this means that a spinning fade and draw shot are less pronounced at altitude and in baseball a curve or cutter pitch doesn't move as much as at sea level. This is the real challenge pitchers face at Coors Field; their "stuff" doesn't "pop" like it does at sea level. In volleyball this means that a top-spin serve won't bite as much and will tend to sail longer than at sea level. This is also true for a float serve. At sea level my experience is that a float serve can be served with more velocity and still drop into the court while that same serve at altitude will not stay in bounds. High altitude teams notice more movement on float serves at sea level. As a player I noticed the difference in the carry and movement due to altitude both in serving and in passing.
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Post by hammer on Oct 8, 2015 12:27:42 GMT -5
I don't know about balls -- although the extra flight distance makes sense -- but I felt the effects during runs. The first time I visited Fort Collins, CO (altitude approx. 5,000 ft), I ran on an outdoor track and I felt slightly tired and a bit winded after a couple of laps (that's 0.5 mile). This was not normal for me because I had been running at sea level (altitude 0.00 ft) for many years prior to that time. Oddly enough, when I ran indoors at the CSU rec center, I didn't feel the same way. I'm not sure if it had anything to do with the air conditioning and the more concentrated oxygen levels (I'm guessing) indoors. It could be my imagination but running indoors in Colorado was way easier than running outdoors in Colorado -- even under ideal weather conditions (70 degrees F, no wind, no sun, no rain, no snow). By the way, I think Terry Pettit has retired to Fort Collins. Not 100% sure. TP has been in Ft. Collins since his retirement mostly so he can hit a golf ball farther. What some don't understand is that elevation can make you hit it shorter (carry distance, not roll). It really has to do with launch trajectory and the modern golf ball. If you launch low without much clubhead speed hitting a draw or hook, the ball might actually carry shorter because you don't have enough backspin to create the necessary friction to get the ball launched (or airborne) at the proper angle. However, if the fairways are rock hard you will get a lot of roll. If you are hitting a driver from an elevated tee, you could carry further with a drawing or hooking action. With that said, please realize that most of you hackers out there in volleytalk land "come over the top" and hit (on a good day) a fade or slice. Your shots will fly further at elevation and go straighter like Terry Pettit's. |
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Post by joetrinsey on Oct 8, 2015 13:56:37 GMT -5
It effects jump spinners for sure. Ask the BYU men's team.
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Post by rainbowbadger on Oct 8, 2015 14:27:47 GMT -5
Wisconsin struggled at Colorado State last year simply due to the ease with which fatigue sets in.
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Post by volleyfan24 on Oct 8, 2015 15:12:01 GMT -5
Preseason #22 Southern Cal will play @ Colorado and Utah this week. I have heard about how the high elevation affects the game as far as conditioning and ball trajectory is concerned..Is it true or just a myth? A feedback from those who have actually experienced playing at the high altitude would be great. Why is it noted USC is preseason #22 and not current #1 Women of Troy. USC with a lesser team swept the mountain schools there last season and Bricio was the PAC-12 POW that week. USC is better this season and both Colorado and Utah are worse. I expect an easy weekend for USC but weird things happen up there. UW has consistently had trouble in the mountains the last few seasons. I think USC shouldn't drop a set but we shall see what happens. The elevation hasn't seemed to affect Bricio before so I don't see why it would now. |
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