One of my favorite parts of any workout is doing some drills. Not only do they break up the monotony of swimming back and forth, but they're a great chance to improve efficiency and focus on technique.
I'm always on the hunt for new drills to add to my repertoire. I put together this list of freestyle drills and explanations that are my current favorites, but I'm looking for some new ones both as a swimmer and a coach. What else do people do?
The list:
Catch up swimming
Finger drag
3-6-3 swimming
Sculling
One arm swimming
Closed fist swimming
Over swimming
Slow and technically perfect
Parents
Former Member
I think most drills are a waste of time the way they are used. If you have a specific problem or deficiency with your stroke, then a drill targeting that particular issue can be useful, but only if there is swimming right after with coaching feedback to help incorporate the correction into your full stroke.
Just having everyone randomly do their choice of drills is useless. Having everyone do the same drill, with an explanation of exactly what it is for can be productive, but only with observation and feedback.
As a distance guy, I hate any and all drills because that is lost workout time that could have been used on conditioning instead.
I think most drills are a waste of time the way they are used. If you have a specific problem or deficiency with your stroke, then a drill targeting that particular issue can be useful, but only if there is swimming right after with coaching feedback to help incorporate the correction into your full stroke.
Just having everyone randomly do their choice of drills is useless. Having everyone do the same drill, with an explanation of exactly what it is for can be productive, but only with observation and feedback.
As a distance guy, I hate any and all drills because that is lost workout time that could have been used on conditioning instead.
