Searching everywhere and not finding much, I think I have an unusual breaststroke problem: I struggle to get my head out of the water for breathing, and then it drops down deep, so that on my next stroke I have to stuggle to get my head ... and round and round it goes.
Moreover, I read about swimmers having the opposite problem; their heads go too high! And indeed I've seen pictures of breaststrokers with their bodies out of the water down to their waists! I know it's bad form, but wow!
I can't even do a head-up breaststroke; my head just won't stay up.
Anyone else have/had this problem? Any suggestions?
I don't even understand what is supposed to bring the head up; where and when is the upward force being applied and by what?
Fighting for breath on every stroke is causing huge anxiety for me; I usually end up with water instead of air in my mouth and I have to abort the swim and have a coughing fit. It's a showstopper.
Alan
I'm no breastroker, however, the best breastrokers I know NEVER actually lift their head. You get your breath when you lift your body as a result of the insweep. You should never lift up your head and look to the far wall. (Trust me, the wall will be there). You should be looking down and slightly ahead as you swim breastroke.
Watch the breastroke heats, 90% of the swimmers will be moving their heads up and down like saying "yes" in a slow fashion. kThey are doing it wrong. There should be no head/neck movement at all.
I'm no breastroker, however, the best breastrokers I know NEVER actually lift their head. You get your breath when you lift your body as a result of the insweep. You should never lift up your head and look to the far wall. (Trust me, the wall will be there). You should be looking down and slightly ahead as you swim breastroke.
Watch the breastroke heats, 90% of the swimmers will be moving their heads up and down like saying "yes" in a slow fashion. kThey are doing it wrong. There should be no head/neck movement at all.
