How to stay buoyant when you're skinny and ectomorphic?
Former Member
I'm 5'9" and weigh 9.5st. My shoulders are narrow and my frame is textbook ectomorph.
I am finding it difficult to stay buoyant while practicing in the pool, particularly my legs.
Is there anything specific I can do to improve my form?
Without using tools, you would need to be very efficient. There are plenty of skinny tall people in pools, and they do sink if not moving. They are efficient and FAST, often.... Currently I'm on the other end of the spectrum ... unfortunately...
But to your problem. Use a kick board while doing kick sets to get your legs in shape, and to develop an efficient kick. Use short fins if at all, not long fins, which develop the wrong kind of kick (or leg) motion. Use a kick with an articulating knee as in walking, not one with a knee as in bicycling. A very talented coach once told me the action was as if you started with a straight leg, but with a knee release (as in walking).
As for the arms and core rotation, there are so many wonderful websites devoted to videos and discussions of the arms, of the core, of different strokes. USMS for one, with these forums. Here are others (my opinion): Swimsmooth out of Perth AUS is also good, as is Glen Mills at GoSwim.tv. Surf the web, or YouTube. See what needs to be done, then compliment these posted efforts with flattery: copy them! Good luck.
Practically all the elite male swimmers will sink if they stop moving.It doesn't take much motion to stay at the surface if your body position is good.If your legs are sinking you are either raising your head or trunk too much or your kick is inefficient,probably the former as it takes little kicking to keep the legs up.I was pretty much your height and weight my first year of college.Even though I was on the swim team the only way I could pass the "float on your back"test for Water Safety Instructor was to wear the baggiest swimsuit I could find and then jump in so it filled with air.
