I practice a lot of drills to improve my technique and I always try to feel if I am catching and holding water. But if I try to swim fast everything falls apart and I don't grab any water. I'm extremely inefficient and fatigue easily.
what is the best way for me to train to get past this problem? I woukd like to be able to compete and see progress in my times. Would more work in the weight room help me control my form? More pace 50s trying to descend? I'd like to do more interval work but if I make the interval challenging I end up not making it after a few reps due to all the energy I waste spinning. I don't have a coach or a practice group. How do elite swimmers manage to grab water and pull themselves past their anchor at high turnover rates?
It is definitely challenging to keep technique intact when you increase your speed and there is a variety of different methods of evaluation and strategies for improvement in this area. That's why the absolute best approach is to work with a coach/trainer who can assess your needs in real time and adjust immediately. In your case, you'll want to keep a balance between drills/technique work and conditioning. You need both, but the perfect combination is unique to you. You can try sets of alternating between drills and fullstroke, you can try drills on interval....and remember that not all of the drills are going to be right for you. You might need a step up from your usual routine to be able to maintain your stroke even at a higher rate of swimming. Bottom line is to try to maintain that balance between your technique and conditioning - don't isolate the two of them and with practice and consistency you will continue to improve! Good luck!
It is definitely challenging to keep technique intact when you increase your speed and there is a variety of different methods of evaluation and strategies for improvement in this area. That's why the absolute best approach is to work with a coach/trainer who can assess your needs in real time and adjust immediately. In your case, you'll want to keep a balance between drills/technique work and conditioning. You need both, but the perfect combination is unique to you. You can try sets of alternating between drills and fullstroke, you can try drills on interval....and remember that not all of the drills are going to be right for you. You might need a step up from your usual routine to be able to maintain your stroke even at a higher rate of swimming. Bottom line is to try to maintain that balance between your technique and conditioning - don't isolate the two of them and with practice and consistency you will continue to improve! Good luck!
