Swim technique question

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2008-07-29 9:15 AM

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Subject: Swim technique question
I know I'm not giving a whole lot of info, but here goes. maybe some of you experts can help.

So, this morning I finally decided to try swimming by rolling my body with each stroke to try and swim at an angle(like I have read in the books and heard people here discuss). I have been swimming for about a year "like a barge" with no roll. I seemed to cut my stroke count by about 1. But, my question is, why did it seem harder to breathe doing this? I seemed to lose my breath alot quicker than using my normal stroke. Will this improve with practice or am I possibly doing something incorrectly?


2008-07-29 9:31 AM
in reply to: #1566760

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Subject: RE: Swim technique question

There are so many variables in a swim stroke, it would be very hard to give an accurate assesment without watching you swim.  The roll of the body is more a reaction of other movements during the swim stroke as opposed to a primary concious effort to just roll the body.  If you want to send me a video, I would be happy to watch it and provide some feedback.

Ken

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Edited by kenaxford 2008-07-29 9:35 AM
2008-07-29 9:32 AM
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2008-07-29 9:38 AM
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Subject: RE: Swim technique question
surfwallace - 2008-07-29 9:32 AM



How are you rolling your body? My only guess is that you are either doing more work than you need to to try to roll your body consequently using more energy per stroke than you were before or your breathing due to this new rolling has now changed so that your breath is shorter and consequently less air.


Hope this helps.


Yeah, I was kinda afraid I was not giving enough info.

This makes sense. Your suggestion did help. One more question-should my head turn as I roll? I'm thinking I was pretty much looking straight down, and I was turning my shoulders and hips.

thanks.
2008-07-29 9:46 AM
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2008-07-29 9:55 AM
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Subject: RE: Swim technique question
surfwallace - 2008-07-29 9:46 AM

Barely!

As your body rolls your head/chin should roll too and be in line with your spine when you are not breathing (not always pointing down). When you breathe, your head should just turn enough for your mouth to ROLL out of the water. The mistake you will see most people make is to RAISE their head up out of the water. In order to get your mouth out of the water by raising your head you have to lift a good eight inches or so of your head out in order to get your mouth out of the water to breathe; you also end up lowering your legs and straining your neck when you do this. By just barely turning your head to the side, you use your natural roll and you stay flat on the surface of the water.


So, when I'm not breathing, i'm looking down?


2008-07-29 10:00 AM
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2008-07-29 10:02 AM
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Subject: RE: Swim technique question
Down or slightly forward - depends on what is comfortable for your body position.

Your rotation will be most effective if it is driven from your hips. I'll second the drill suggestion of learning to 'balance' in proper position by kicking in the proper rotated position.

It's common to rotate too far during these drills, I like to think of it like there is a bubble underneath my bottom armpit. Press on the bubble a little more than you're used to and your hips will rise and your legs will drag less.

Practice this with one arm extended in front and the other arm down at your side. Switch sides when you breath, allow 8-10 kicks between breaths. It's a good way to get some kicking in while you're working on body position.

After a while, you might notice you go much faster kicking with this drill than you did before, even with a kickboard. That is the benefit of good body position.
2008-07-29 10:05 AM
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Subject: RE: Swim technique question
LOL!! Sorry to be so difficult!! Now you know how I feel when I talk to my wife .

I should have also said that I breath every 4 strokes. I have tried every 3, but can't seem to breathe on my left side very well at all. Maybe I should try every 2.
2008-07-29 11:57 AM
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Subject: RE: Swim technique question
stateu - 2008-07-29 10:05 AM
I should have also said that I breath every 4 strokes. I have tried every 3, but can't seem to breathe on my left side very well at all. Maybe I should try every 2.


This is one of the longstanding swimming debates.

There are some benefits to be had by breathing on both sides as far as stroke symmetry

But if you watch the pro swimmers in the Olympics you'll see plenty of them breathing every 2 strokes.

Personally, I breath every 2 in a Tri, YMMV (Your Mileage May Vary).
2008-07-29 12:18 PM
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Subject: RE: Swim technique question

steves_training - 2008-07-29 11:57 AM
stateu - 2008-07-29 10:05 AM I should have also said that I breath every 4 strokes. I have tried every 3, but can't seem to breathe on my left side very well at all. Maybe I should try every 2.
This is one of the longstanding swimming debates. There are some benefits to be had by breathing on both sides as far as stroke symmetry But if you watch the pro swimmers in the Olympics you'll see plenty of them breathing every 2 strokes. Personally, I breath every 2 in a Tri, YMMV (Your Mileage May Vary).

x2, I train breathing every 3, but in a race I breathe every 2 depending on what the OWS scenario is whether it's left or right.  If I'm in the ocean, the current may be going one way one day but another way the next, so learning both sides will make sure you're prepared for race day.

I spoke with a pro triathlete a few weeks back and they recommended taking a look at pro swimmers and how they swim and evaluate what you're doing compared to them.  Take a video of yourself and compare it to someone like Michael Phelps and see where the differences are.  To put this in perspective, I took golf lessons at a place where they recorded my swing and put my video side-by-side to Tiger Woods.  I thought I had been swinging the right way but when put next to a pro I found 12 things that I was doing wrong.  Just my .02

2008-08-01 8:41 PM
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Subject: RE: Swim technique question


I don't know a better way to say this so here goes:

Your eyes should be pointing in the same directions as your nipples



I think there are many techniques out there - what you'll find most competitive swimmers doing is lookiing forward or slightly down while looking forward. the water line should be just about where your eyebrows are (maybe slightly above). Your roll should not be an unnatural feeling, your hips should naturally roll with your stroke.

Hope this helps
2008-08-01 11:04 PM
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Subject: RE: Swim technique question

Try looking at some of these videos -- might help...

 http://www.goswim.tv/pages/5/videos.html

 

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