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?
The tempo trainer is a great idea. Julia is right that a coach or knowledgeable observer would help.Can you video your stroke and look for the differences between how it looks with good form vs "fast"? I'd also suggest that you do a series of 25s with plenty of rest between them,first doing your "good form stroke",then speed up by making each stroke harder,not faster.Try to keep the same speed,but one less stroke per length. When you can do that try adding one and only one stroke per length while going faster.When you can do that add another etc. until you get to sprinting.This should take several sessions. Ease into speed. Good luck.
The tempo trainer is a great idea. Julia is right that a coach or knowledgeable observer would help.Can you video your stroke and look for the differences between how it looks with good form vs "fast"? I'd also suggest that you do a series of 25s with plenty of rest between them,first doing your "good form stroke",then speed up by making each stroke harder,not faster.Try to keep the same speed,but one less stroke per length. When you can do that try adding one and only one stroke per length while going faster.When you can do that add another etc. until you get to sprinting.This should take several sessions. Ease into speed. Good luck.
