Between swimming for a few months with a painful hip pre-surgery and having to swim with a pull buoy for nine weeks post-surgery, my hip problems caused a new stroke flaw that I had never had in the past with my freestyle. Check out my entire left arm and my right hand in the videos below, and you'll see what I mean.
To help correct the flaw, I've been using a pair of Finis Forearm Fulcrums and doing the bow and arrow drill, but I thought I would check in with my fellow Forumites for additional suggestions. I'm mainly concerned with my entry leading up to the pull. Due to a previous (non-swimming related) major shoulder surgery, I can't keep my elbows any higher on the pull, because of the stress on my clavicles.
www.youtube.com/watch
Thanks, Forumites! :agree:
Hi Elaine, I noticed It looks like your ankles have lost a little flexibility, I would guess from not kicking for 3 months. Other than the minor flaw discussed and addressed, your freestyle looks good and streamlined to me. There is a little room for a higher elbow, but that is probably true for most of us and depends on if we can bend like that.
Yeah, two weeks on :toohurt: and nine weeks swimming with a pull buoy is probably the cause of that loss in flexibility. I've been doing a lot of stretching to regain flexibility elsewhere (I can bend over and touch the floor with straight legs, flat hands on the floor, and even a bend in my elbows. :banana:); however, I haven't worked enough on the ankles other than ankle circles. I will concentrate on pointed toes when I kick and stretch. Thanks for pointing that out!
As for higher elbows, if I go any higher with them, it puts too much stress on my (previously operated on) shoulder. It's a stroke "flaw" by choice, so that I can be in the sport for the rest of my life. For me, preventing injuries takes precedence over clocking faster times. :agree:
Hi Elaine, I noticed It looks like your ankles have lost a little flexibility, I would guess from not kicking for 3 months. Other than the minor flaw discussed and addressed, your freestyle looks good and streamlined to me. There is a little room for a higher elbow, but that is probably true for most of us and depends on if we can bend like that.
Yeah, two weeks on :toohurt: and nine weeks swimming with a pull buoy is probably the cause of that loss in flexibility. I've been doing a lot of stretching to regain flexibility elsewhere (I can bend over and touch the floor with straight legs, flat hands on the floor, and even a bend in my elbows. :banana:); however, I haven't worked enough on the ankles other than ankle circles. I will concentrate on pointed toes when I kick and stretch. Thanks for pointing that out!
As for higher elbows, if I go any higher with them, it puts too much stress on my (previously operated on) shoulder. It's a stroke "flaw" by choice, so that I can be in the sport for the rest of my life. For me, preventing injuries takes precedence over clocking faster times. :agree:
