Trying to figure out how to take a breath when my arm is extended vs 30- 40% down towards the bottom of the pool. Is it a timing thing? High elbow catch totally elusive as well. Late start in proper technique.
Gary Hall, Sr. has some excellent videos outlining some of the different freestyle techniques. Generally, I would suggest a few things to help you try to find that place. I think it should come naturally to you, but it needs to be part of a rhythm, and not "oh my heavens I need air!" So here is what I'd suggest:
1. SLOW DOWN. This is the hardest thing for me to do, personally. But when I say slow down, I do NOT mean slow down so you can concentrate, I mean slow down and make your stroke more efficient. Be sure you are pulling water. Not sure how many strokes/lap you take, that is going to be a good indication. I have gone from 19 to 15 since I started swimming a few months ago.
2. Focus on exhaling, first. Do NOT hold your breath. Breathe every 3rd stroke, and as soon as you take a breath, start exhaling from your nose, slowly. It was explained to me that when you hold your breath, your body senses that the air feeding your blood is depleting, and tells your brain to breath NOW. When you exhale continuously, you trick your body into believing it has a good, continuous source of air.
3. When you do breath, you want to look behind you, NOT beside you, and certainly not in front of you. Look kind of 3/4 to your rear. Others have said to look for your elbow. I didn't really do that, but since reading that, I have noticed that I can, indeed see it.
Hope this helps. I'm not an expert, I'm relearning how to do things, myself. Just hoping that since I still have to think about it, I may be able to explain things a little bit that are not deliberate actions to others. And again, go take a look at the Gary Hall Sr. videos. I think his channel may be called The Race Club or something similar, don't recall.
Gary Hall, Sr. has some excellent videos outlining some of the different freestyle techniques. Generally, I would suggest a few things to help you try to find that place. I think it should come naturally to you, but it needs to be part of a rhythm, and not "oh my heavens I need air!" So here is what I'd suggest:
1. SLOW DOWN. This is the hardest thing for me to do, personally. But when I say slow down, I do NOT mean slow down so you can concentrate, I mean slow down and make your stroke more efficient. Be sure you are pulling water. Not sure how many strokes/lap you take, that is going to be a good indication. I have gone from 19 to 15 since I started swimming a few months ago.
2. Focus on exhaling, first. Do NOT hold your breath. Breathe every 3rd stroke, and as soon as you take a breath, start exhaling from your nose, slowly. It was explained to me that when you hold your breath, your body senses that the air feeding your blood is depleting, and tells your brain to breath NOW. When you exhale continuously, you trick your body into believing it has a good, continuous source of air.
3. When you do breath, you want to look behind you, NOT beside you, and certainly not in front of you. Look kind of 3/4 to your rear. Others have said to look for your elbow. I didn't really do that, but since reading that, I have noticed that I can, indeed see it.
Hope this helps. I'm not an expert, I'm relearning how to do things, myself. Just hoping that since I still have to think about it, I may be able to explain things a little bit that are not deliberate actions to others. And again, go take a look at the Gary Hall Sr. videos. I think his channel may be called The Race Club or something similar, don't recall.
