Thanks guys. I am really in a quagmire right now. I think I have mentioned how my coach is trying to get me to swim freestyle in a very different way than what I have read, seen in videos, or or been taught by other here. I have generally tried to fudge my way through by making a token effort to do a little of what he says so as not to offend him. My hope was that he would just let it go and work with what I am comfortable doing. I like his workouts and his help on other strokes has been really useful. He is also a guy who was a heck of a swimmer in his day, has decades of experience, and has coached many a great swimmer, including Tracy Caulkin. So I am a peon comparatively. But here is what he wants me to do (I've drawn and attached an illustration). He essentially wants me to press deep into the water and pull with my forearm horizontal while tying to touch my opposite hip. I don't know a lot, but I do know that modern swimmers do not do this for the most part, with a few exceptions. I think Alain Barnard might do something similar. I also am pretty sure from trying that today that my shoulder will blow if I do a lot of that. I tried to gently tell him that it didn't feel right and maybe there is some compromise or some part of that I can incorporate into my current stroke. I also pointed out that the wider pull (not crossing the midline and higher elbow) works for a lot of olympians so maybe there is more than one way to skin the cat. He felt that maybe they were taught that way but he didn't agree with it and they might be faster doing it his way. I think he was a little offended that I didn't trust his judgement on this. I really don't know what to do, it has gotten to the point where I'm hoping he doesn't pay attention to me when I swim freestyle.
I'm well aware that I have a lot more work to do to become a better competitive swimmer, I have no delusions about that. But am I wrong in thinking I should keep working on the more modern high elbow catch and pull (no crossing the middle)?
Thanks guys. I am really in a quagmire right now. I think I have mentioned how my coach is trying to get me to swim freestyle in a very different way than what I have read, seen in videos, or or been taught by other here. I have generally tried to fudge my way through by making a token effort to do a little of what he says so as not to offend him. My hope was that he would just let it go and work with what I am comfortable doing. I like his workouts and his help on other strokes has been really useful. He is also a guy who was a heck of a swimmer in his day, has decades of experience, and has coached many a great swimmer, including Tracy Caulkin. So I am a peon comparatively. But here is what he wants me to do (I've drawn and attached an illustration). He essentially wants me to press deep into the water and pull with my forearm horizontal while tying to touch my opposite hip. I don't know a lot, but I do know that modern swimmers do not do this for the most part, with a few exceptions. I think Alain Barnard might do something similar. I also am pretty sure from trying that today that my shoulder will blow if I do a lot of that. I tried to gently tell him that it didn't feel right and maybe there is some compromise or some part of that I can incorporate into my current stroke. I also pointed out that the wider pull (not crossing the midline and higher elbow) works for a lot of olympians so maybe there is more than one way to skin the cat. He felt that maybe they were taught that way but he didn't agree with it and they might be faster doing it his way. I think he was a little offended that I didn't trust his judgement on this. I really don't know what to do, it has gotten to the point where I'm hoping he doesn't pay attention to me when I swim freestyle.
I'm well aware that I have a lot more work to do to become a better competitive swimmer, I have no delusions about that. But am I wrong in thinking I should keep working on the more modern high elbow catch and pull (no crossing the middle)?
