Well, 'crawler, you are definitely doing better than the lady swimming next to you! :afraid:(Hey, at least she is in the pool attempting to get some exercise...)
Since I am no expert, I will refrain from giving you advice. But, check back regularly, because there are several Forumites who are experts and I am hoping they will assist you. Forumites? :cheerleader:
Thanks for the videos. The catch drill will hopefully help with pulling more water. But I did notice that my head is too far out as compared to the total immersion video. Which is probably dragging my legs down too. Is there a drill to fix that?
I'm 41. When I started swimming 3 years ago I was able to swim 3 lengths of the pool before I was gasping for air. Now I swim 3-4 times a week for 1/2 an hour. In half hour I swim 1200-1300. My short term goal is to swim 1500 in under 1/2 hour. Long term goal is to swim a mile in that time. Unfortunately I'm not sure I can devote more time to training than 1/2 an hour 4 times a week. Would you say that my goals are achievable in the next 2 years?
1. I would push of a little harder from the wall so that the practice of skills will become easier
2. Although you arm technique seems okay, you are not moving water, as Ande stated already. It seems (if I assess your speed) that your hand stays flat or so. Try to grab water by focussing that during almost the entire phase under water, your fingers are pointing towards the bottom of the pool. Try to put more strength in your stroke. The way it looks now, you could swim for hours and not getting tired.
3. Try to breathe every 3 strokes or so and keep your head almost under water. Your butt will rise and you create lss drag
4. Your kicking can improve. You kick every two seconds or so a couple of times. Try to use it more consistent
5. I would concentrate on stroke efficiency. Push of rom the wall and try with a long powerfull stroke to make speed. Not just making a lot of strokes, they should be efficient. Help yourself with a good kick and now count the strokes you make for one lane. (from start to finish) Let another one time you, count seconds and number of strokes and keep this result in mind. After two months of training you do it again and see if you are developing.
6. As i am only used to think in meters, I can not judge if your goals are okay.
a video is to a swimmer what a mirror is to someone with bad body image.
The video tells me you are doing it right, but as with all of us, there's room for improvement.
I want to ask the following questions: How long do you swim? How ofter per week? What are your goals? - but I don't think my advice will change much based on those answers. Just don't expect miracles if you swim once a week for a 1/2 hour.
Use this video as a tool, compare it to other videos (maybe the ones Ande suggested) to see what you can be doing better - now pick drills/sets that will help shape that component of your stroke. Start with 25/50's. As strength builds then you can increase distance to build endurance.
From what I see in the video, drills that emphasize catch will help you get a feel for your pull. Triathlon Swimming Drills: Sculling - YouTube is a good example, but I would suggest a pull buoy instead of kicking.... really force yourself to propel yourself with your hands/forearms.
But the catch is just the start, there's lot of fun stuff to learn and a life time to do it - enjoy just swimming!
Thank you! Hope it will work for you. Instead of the short term goal (a certain distance in half an hour), I would focus on stroke-efficiency goals.
For instance: You need now let's say 17 strokes for one lane and it takes 18 seconds. 17 + 18 = 35
Now make a goal that you want to have this number down to 32 (16 strokes in 16 seconds) in two months.
Your training could have these effeciciency training in it, but als you an swim longer distances.
Once you have that reached that desired number then focus on the longer distance. The way you plan it could lead to a situation in where you put a lot of effort in a wrong way. On the longer term not smart.
It also can help you to make taskgoals, for instance swimming 4 times a week for 40 minutes.
I thought I was doing alright until I watched this video. Please provide some direction. Thanks. Front crawl 8/21/12 - YouTube
Generating more propulsion from each arm pull is priority number 1.
Overall technique looks good but you need to get more out if.
What I see is that you are avoiding that resistance as an effort to avoid getting 'tired' faster and are most likely not even thinking about it. You need to change your focus and really focus on generating resistance against the palm of your hand (and forearm but start with the palm for now) and keep that feeling of resistance all the way thru the pull. The movement that initiates the start of the pull is the fingers dropping towards the pool bottom while keeping the wrist firm and the elbow near the surface of the water.
I see swimmers who start to pull the elbow back before they drop their fingers but I don't see that a whole lot with you, a little here and there but not a huge issue. But what I do see is your hands turning to the side to 'release' the pressure of the water against your hand. It's this pressure that give propulsion so you need to focus on maintaining that pressure thru each pull.
WhyNot, thank! I really appreciate the detailed comments. Pulling water and kicking seem to be the two target areas. I also did some calculations. 1200 is roughly 1100 meters, 1500 yards is 1375 meters and 1800 yards (mile) is 1650 meters. Thanks again.
