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Discussion: swimming
Subject: swimming By: John P. Written on: 2006-05-27 20:54:53 Message: I am a new swimmer and have been attending classes with the local tri club on saturday mornings, There is approx 30 people at the practises of all levels. SO THE COACH IS STRECHED THIN. The coach tells me that I move my hips too much while swimming and it is slowing me down. I also do not glide properly, as they say belly button to the wall, this is very difficult for me. I have the total immersion swim book but do find it difficult without a coach. He has given me a couple of tips to try and correct it but oh it seems so slow, any advice on how to correct this, is my stroke wrong??? am I not kicking enough,????????
Subject: RE: swimming By: Ronald F. Written on: 2006-05-27 23:34:56 Message: There is no way that I can coach your swimming without seeing you swim. But I can tell you that not gliding well is the thing that limits all humans swim speed. Gliding better than the next guy while using an efficient stroke will make you the faster swimmer. Every turn in the pool is an opportunity to improve the glide. When you push off from the wall make yourself as streamline as posible and glide as far as possible the better you glide the further you will go. When you feel like you have a good stagnet glide start trying to take a few strokes while you are still carrying some speed from the push off.( Hint if you bend your knees or lose your streamline position in any other way you will not be able to carry the speed). I have always done this and still do this. This is one simple excercise that we can all do to improve a little but a coach providing specific feedback is neccessary.
Subject: RE: swimming By: John P. Written on: 2006-05-28 08:25:17 Message: I will try it Ron, I think I will get a coach next winter or take specific classes. Apparently there are stroke improvement classes at the Aquatic centre I belong to. With my work I just cant get to all of them, I work shift. Thanks, I will keep trying.
Subject: RE: swimming By: Jose G. Written on: 2006-05-28 23:21:01 Message: John, While I have been swimming since toddler-hood, formal freestyle strokes for laps is new to me. It's been a struggle learning the intricacies of the efficient stroke even after some research and flayling in the pool. At this point a swim coach sounds like a worth while investment to me. Let me know how this works out for you.
Subject: RE: swimming By: Diana R. Written on: 2006-05-29 00:16:51 Message: I never heard belly button to the wall, but I have heard, "Avoid the barge-like position." Meaning, keep rotating the shoulders so they are not level and pushing against the water. Also, make sure you are using the "shark-fin, rainbow" elbow and hand positions. I emphasize my sharkfin elbow and then rainbow my hand on the recovery. A coach once told me to draw my thumb up the side of my body on recovery before it left the water to keep it close to body. So I do the above occasionally on practices just to make it a habit. Biker Momma
Subject: RE: swimming By: frank v. Written on: 2006-05-29 06:50:47 Message: Hard to tell without seeing you. But if you have style problems, so first thing to do is to swm SLOWLY. All problems get worse when swimming (or trying to) faster. Then you should find out why you move your hips. One thing you can try is to split the swimming. Have someone look at you (even non coach) when you swim with arms and legs. then take a pull boy (ie swim with your arms only) and have them look at you again. then swim with kick board head out of water and have you checked again. Probably they will tell you swim you don't move your hips while kicking only. Then try to swim slowly with few long strokes and glide as much as possible in between. Hope this helps, cheers Frank
Subject: RE: swimming By: Denise W. Written on: 2006-05-29 11:35:56 Message: I am also a weak swimmer... I have my first sprint tri this coming weekend...June 4... (second attempt though.. my first was an ocean swim.. and I was not prepared for that).. this one is in the bay...I have been trying to slow my strokes and focus on the distance I need to swim for the race... if I keep doing tri's I will look into a swim coach or at least a few private lessons.....good luck...Denise
Subject: RE: swimming By: John P. Written on: 2006-05-29 11:46:39 Message: Reading an article in the tri book tells me to swim on my side for half lengths of the pool, bottom arm extended, using fins. Then switch sides. Yes I do swim the barge like position. I like the idea of dragging a thump up the side also this should ensure I get my arm high enough out of the water which i do not do at this point. when rotaing I have tried to rotate my whole body, you are saying to rotate just from the shoulders up, moving at the waist? is this correct? When stroking I always reach for the bottom oof the pool, arm straight, apparently I should be bending my arm at the elbow after it is totally in the water and dragging it across or just below chest when pulling to the rear and then straightening it out at my side before leaving water. Is this correct? We shall strive to do the best we can. !!!!!!
Subject: RE: swimming By: Ronald F. Written on: 2006-05-29 14:27:15 Message: John At this time in developing your swim I would not worry about whether your arm is straight or bent during the stroke. It is more importandt that your fingers and hand should be pointing straight toward the bottom of the pool from as soon as you possibly can as you start to pull, to right before your hand comes out of the water. Think of your hand as an oar. With an oar you would not allow the water to slip off of the oar by twisting the oar nor by tilting the oar. Ron
Subject: RE: swimming By: bob g. Written on: 2006-05-30 11:25:13 Message: Diana I may be picturing your stroke incorrectly but drawing yoiur thumb up next to your body on the recovery is correct. Try to think of the recovery (the part of the stroke from the hip to back in the water, in the air) as a vaultng motion initiated by the shoulders. Almost a throwing motion. This allows yoiu to get the most reach out your stroke and also facilitates a good rolling motion of the body. I do three drills to help with the stroke. The first is swimming with one arm only. BReathe to one side only, pull with one arm and hook the other arm in your swim suit waist (or just hold it place about your waist) you must use a six beat kick and good body rotation. the second drill is similar to the first but you breathe on the opposite side that you "normally" would (weak side breathing) The 3rd drill is a hand swapping drill. Begin by gliding with your both hands above your head and your head looking straight down toward the bottom of the pool. Make a complete pull and recovery with one arm before you begin the pull with the other arm. I do like the Shark fin picture! I will use that with my "wee" ones tonight at swim pratice.
Subject: RE: swimming By: John P. Written on: 2006-05-30 21:41:58 Message: Today at swimming, I tried two exercises, I swam on my side using fins, one hand extended, the other to my side. I switched sides each time i turned. It slowed me down and I concerntrated on what I was doing more. Secondly i continued to use the fins, each stroke I would ensure my thumb touched my thigh on recovery and then my arm and shoulder stayed high. On re entry I slipped my fingers in just above my head. I would pause with both hands extended before beginning stroke with second arm. This slowed me down and allowed me to concentrate also on what I was doing. I don't think I was swaying in the water but i will not know until I have someone observe me. Please continue with suggestions as i have learned from all of what you have told me so far. Thanks. john.
Subject: RE: swimming By: bob g. Written on: 2006-05-31 11:51:00 Message: John A couple of things...Swimming from side to side with an exagerated roll is a very good drill. It does allow you to concentrate on the stroke. However there is no need to force your thumb to extend to your thigh. Your hands should exit just below the waist. In other words, don't try to make your arm go straight before you begin your recovery. Also try to "vault" or "Rainbow" your arm over your head to extend it far out in front of your head. Relax your arm and let it fly from the shoulders without trying to slip it in the water just above your head. All this is newer technique from the way I swam in college. (25 years ago!)
Subject: RE: swimming By: John P. Written on: 2006-05-31 14:46:39 Message: I shall keep this in mind. John
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