Now that Nationals are over, it's back to the drawing board- or, at least video feedback for stroke flaws. This video my husband shot for me today shows I am dropping my left elbow on entry, and it's waving around a bit as I reach forward.
Does anybody have suggestions on how to correct this stroke flaw? Your advice would be most appreciated! Thanks, Forumites!
www.youtube.com/watch
Not sure if you will be able to see this in the photo, but my license place is SWMDOG...Only 6 letters are allowed on custom plates in Montana. Thought of H2ODOG, but that was too complicated.
10430
I would say that rather than dropping your elbow, you are raising your hand too high after entry. If you compare the other hand you will notice that it extends straight forwards rather and reaching up towards the surface. You can try just extending your left hand/arm straight forwards or slightly downwards to over compensate. You really want your hand to be about 8-10 inches below the water (as you reach forwards). Hope this helps!
Elaine:
May I suggest that rather than "dropping your elbow," you may actually be lifting your hand. I took a couple of screen shots from your video (left and right sides), and what I see is that the relative position of your upper arm is the same, but the relative position of your hand is significantly different.
Left Arm:
10426
Right Arm:
10427
Concentrate on your hand position on your left side; really extend and reach out toward the end of the pool like you're doing on your right side. In my opinion, if you're doing it right, you'll feel a bit of a stretch in the upper side of your forearm.
Sometimes, when I am working on things like this, I might put a small paddle on the ONE hand in focus. It's like a reminder.
This is a pretty common issue, and I believe it's caused by a balance compensation when the swimmer turns to breathe, so you may find that this impacts your breathing, but it's so slight of a change, it may be very easy for you to fix.
Hey, Jamie (ganache)! It's Mark Johnston (formerly in Denver). It looks like you and I are on the same page here, literally and figuratively. That's always nice to see that two fellow coaches agree on something. We must have been writing our posts at the same time. Hope all is well with you!
Not sure if you will be able to see this in the photo, but my license place is SWMDOG...Only 6 letters are allowed on custom plates in Montana. Thought of H2ODOG, but that was too complicated.
10430
LOVE IT!!! :banana: :cheerleader: :applaud:
I would say that rather than dropping your elbow, you are raising your hand too high after entry. If you compare the other hand you will notice that it extends straight forwards rather and reaching up towards the surface. You can try just extending your left hand/arm straight forwards or slightly downwards to over compensate. You really want your hand to be about 8-10 inches below the water (as you reach forwards). Hope this helps!
Elaine:
May I suggest that rather than "dropping your elbow," you may actually be lifting your hand. I took a couple of screen shots from your video (left and right sides), and what I see is that the relative position of your upper arm is the same, but the relative position of your hand is significantly different.
Left Arm:
10426
Right Arm:
10427
Concentrate on your hand position on your left side; really extend and reach out toward the end of the pool like you're doing on your right side. In my opinion, if you're doing it right, you'll feel a bit of a stretch in the upper side of your forearm.
Sometimes, when I am working on things like this, I might put a small paddle on the ONE hand in focus. It's like a reminder.
This is a pretty common issue, and I believe it's caused by a balance compensation when the swimmer turns to breathe, so you may find that this impacts your breathing, but it's so slight of a change, it may be very easy for you to fix.
Well, Ganache and Swim Dogs, it looks like you are both in agreement with what I am doing wrong. :agree: I never thought of it this way, because I was so focused on the elbow. We are going back to the pool today with the camera, so I will see what I can do to fix this problem. I'm thinking my freestyle flaw will be easier to fix than the problem I'm having with butterfly!
Thanks to both of you for taking the time to help me out. I appreciate it very much! :D
P.S. I love your Swim Dogs name and logo! :applaud: This is my license plate: 10428
In keeping with the VW theme from Coach Mark's most excellent looking van, I'd offer this way to think about your entry, courtesy of some work I did with Terry Laughlin of Total Immersion a few years back: as your hand enters the water, think about your hand sliding down the hood and over the grill of a car (but think more Beetle\Bug than campervan as you imagine this) That thought might help you get your hand higher than your elbow.
The video I'd next like to see is your over-water recovery as I'd like to see if you're entering at too low an angle to 'cause' your elbow to drop underwater.
On the positive side, I think the kick-hip-rotation is great.
In keeping with the VW theme from Coach Mark's most excellent looking van, I'd offer this way to think about your entry, courtesy of some work I did with Terry Laughlin of Total Immersion a few years back: as your hand enters the water, think about your hand sliding down the hood and over the grill of a car (but think more Beetle\Bug than campervan as you imagine this) That thought might help you get your hand higher than your elbow.
The video I'd next like to see is your over-water recovery as I'd like to see if you're entering at too low an angle to 'cause' your elbow to drop underwater.
On the positive side, I think the kick-hip-rotation is great.
Ok, a Bug it is! I like that!:anim_coffee: I don't have a current top view of my freestyle; however, I'm sure I can recruit my personal videographer / swim meet sherpa / awesome hubby to shoot one. :D
It's good to know my hip rotation and kick is "great," because I've been working on it since Swimspire offered it as a way to improve my freestyle. WooHOO, something stuck in my training!
Edit: I do have this video from a meet in April. Fast-forward to the anchor leg of this relay for some really tired, slow freestyle. This was the last race of a two-day meet where I swam a killer event line-up of 1650, 500, 400 IM, 200 fly, 200 ***, 200 back, 100 fly, 100 ***, 50 ***, and 50 fly:
www.youtube.com/watch Jzj5giLombkZ1_y115
