Learning to swim better

[ChrisA]

I need to learn how to swim better. I can get from one end of the pool to the other and back but I need to either rest after every 50M or switch to a back or side stroke to rest. My goal is to do 500M freestyle continuously. That's about 10X longer then I can do now.

Some people say all it takes is time in the pool but I'm thinking that swimming to 75% technique and 25% conditioning, (unless you want to go fast then conditioning maters a little more.)

I think I need to learn the technique part. Anyone know of a program that involves working with a coach for beginners? I'm in Redondo Beach.

 

[Tassie_Rohan]

I can really recommend total immersion training - go to one of their workshops if you can, or plug away with their dvd and book: someone here metioned them a year or so back and their drills really helped make me more efficient.

Cheers,
Rohan.

 

[lowwall]

Take it from a former swim instructor, technique is at least 75% at your level.

Why not check out the closest YMCA? They have taught more swim lessons than every other organization in the USA combined and they are usually pretty cheap.

Here's the Torrance-South Bay Y aquatics page http://www.ymcala.org/Branch/Webpage.aspx?ENT=68&ID=1391

 

[JamieS]

Chris,

I felt the same way a couple of years ago,that you seem to feel now. I found myself not able to swim very far without resting or switching to another stroke. I discovered that it was almost all in my breathing. I got in the pool one day with my mask and snorkel instead of my swim goggles. I was amazed!! Instead of struggling for breath and getting tired out quickly, I was able to just keep going for quite a while. I worked on my breathing without a snorkel and found it much better after some more practice. One of the best peices of advice I got was "Be sure to exhale completely" That sounded silly to me, but thinking about it phisiologically, it makes sense. Get all that CO2 out every time you breathe. If you continue to breathe in after just half an exhale, there is lots of CO2 left in your system forcing your body to breathe again.

I also agree with the other replies that a few lessons sure cannot hurt.

Good luck!

 

[lowwall]

JamieS is right, breathing correctly is a large part of the battle. The key for the crawl (freestyle), butterfly or breastroke is to exhale when your face is under water, so you can inhale fully when it's above. The best way to ensure this is to concentrate on blowing bubbles under water. And take it slow until you are comfortable with the breath pattern. BTW, most people start out breathing every other stroke in the crawl, but it's not really necessary. Most long distance swimmers breath every third or fourth.

Still, even if you master the breathing, lessons will be a real help. There are issues of body positioning and movements that you just can't figure out on your own. Water is really unforgiving when it comes to streamlining flaws.

 

[LLKZ16]

I swam competitively in High School and College and I totally agree that technique is a key part to your success. Try to find someone to teach you what you are doing wrong so you can work on improving your form.

Another important element not mentioned above for freestyle is that you really need to have your hand enter the water correctly and leave the water correctly while pulling through your stroke. A good teaching aid would be for you to get a pull buoy. This is basically a small foam float that you put between your legs so you will not kick. It hold up your back end and helps you concentrate on your pull.

GOOD LUCK!!

 

[TxHockeyGuy]

Another former competitive swimmer here. The mistakes I see made most often with swimmers are:

1. Breathing, they either breathe way to often or not enough. Every 3rd or 5th stroke is probably where you should be. I use odd numbers so you get used to breathing to both sides.
2. Constantly exhale slowly while swimming. This means when you breath all you have to do is inhale, not exhale and then inhale. This will help keep your rythem and ensure you get more of a full breath with less effort.
3. This one is a little hard to explain in words. I see a lot of people put their head up and to the side to breath. This just creates drag. Instead you want to breath off to the side and slightly back towards your shoulder.
4. I see a lot of people trying to look ahead when swimming. Look down so you keep your body streamlined. When you look ahead you raise your head you are creating drag and that will quickly wear you out.
5. Cup your hands, don't claw at the water. This may sound counterintuitive but when your arm is in the water you want as much resistance as you can get, that resistance is what is propelling you forward. By cupping your hand you get more resistance and thus more propulsion through the water. There is also an S shaped motion you should be making under the water that also helps with efficiency but that is difficult to explain in words.

Those are just the bare basics. Taking a class will probably teach you these things. If you want to get really good though you'll need to join a competitive swim team. When I took my OW class I was in horrible shape, I hadn't swam a lap in the last 4 years, I had amost zero excercise in the last 2 years, and I was outswimming the recently retired NFL player in our class (and no, he wasn't a lineman). As my swim coach used to say, swimming is 90% technique, 20% heart, and 10% strength. OK, so she wasn't the greatest at math, but you get the picture.

 

[kelpmermaid]

As luck would have it, I happened to be looking at the 8/17 edition of the Easy Reader, and there is an ad from a swim coach. You might want to check with her -- the ad mentions technique for adults. Let me know if you have thrown yours out and I will send you a pm with details.

 

[Ross-O]

It's the perfect place to improve your swimming and it can also be a lot of fun.
There are several in South Bay. Torrance has a really nice one but it meets insanely early in the mornings (5AM - 6:30AM).

www.lapsmasters.org

Ross-O