Not much to be seen from that distance and water opacity, but from what I can see it looks like your kick is detrimental to your balance. There isn't a ton of rhythm or drive to it. I'm not sure if that's because of the waves in the open water or if that's how it looks in the pool too.
The middle of the three vids is really the only one that offers much to see. Like JPEnge, I really only see issues with the kick. And since you're training for a 5k open water swim...IMO (which I think I share with others) you don't need a particularly strong kick for that long of a swim. You do however want to maintain a good, streamline position in the water. Personally, I only kick enough to 'feel' the surface of the water, and keep my body level. You seem to be doing that. But, in your case, you have a bit of a scissor kick happening. Try to concentrate on keeping your legs closer together as you kick.
Dan
The middle of the three vids is really the only one that offers much to see. Like JPEnge, I really only see issues with the kick. And since you're training for a 5k open water swim...IMO (which I think I share with others) you don't need a particularly strong kick for that long of a swim. You do however want to maintain a good, streamline position in the water. Personally, I only kick enough to 'feel' the surface of the water, and keep my body level. You seem to be doing that. But, in your case, you have a bit of a scissor kick happening. Try to concentrate on keeping your legs closer together as you kick.
Dan
Oh my god I haven't still got rid of that dreaded scissor kick since the coach told me this fact a few months ago.
I'll try to get some more OW videos the coming weekends if possible. This set of videos are actually my first set of OW swimming videos because I don't have any friends who swim with me, or even know swimming at all, and I just got someone on the beach to record it for me (those who swim regularly at that beach are elderly who don't know how to use a smart phone)
Oh my god I haven't still got rid of that dreaded scissor kick since the coach told me this fact a few months ago.
I'll try to get some more OW videos the coming weekends if possible. This set of videos are actually my first set of OW swimming videos because I don't have any friends who swim with me, or even know swimming at all, and I just got someone on the beach to record it for me (those who swim regularly at that beach are elderly who don't know how to use a smart phone)
You 'might' try using something like this...a "pull strap." Personally, I have never used one. And, I don't think your scissor kicking deficiency is what they're designed for. But maybe it can help you learn to keep your legs from doing it. Perhaps someone who has used one will chime in. I've always thought of something like this when I see other swimmers with a wide kick like that. But I think I would seek out a strap/device (maybe adjustable, maybe a DIY thing) that does allow kicking but keeps your legs closer. It'd just be used as a "reminder" so that when you feel the restraint from the strap (or whatever device)...it reminds you to control your legs.
Dan
Looks like you're lifting your head a bit forward when you breathe, too. (Maybe that was your sighting?) When you turn to breath, imagine your belly button rotating to the water level.
Some Swim Smooth drills might help, like 6/1/6 and 6/3/6.
And take Jen up on her offer on the other forum. She's incredible. (But video in a pool.)
Oh! And a thing I'd always make my triathlete scissor kickers do: Use a pull buoy, but still kick. That would at least help them keep their legs together. Also, I'd tell them to squeeze their butt cheeks together when they would swim w/o the pull buoy.
Good luck!
A couple of comments for you to consider:
1) In my opinion, the scissors kick that we see in the video is not all that severe. Again, in my opinion, it is directly related to when you lift your head to sight. Get used to wearing goggles all the time. I spit in mine (swedes) before getting them wet and, in 40+ yrs of using goggles, I have only had a handful of times when they fog up. As others mentioned, not wearing goggles is a huge detriment.
2) Of course, we can't see what your arms are doing underwater. BUT, by extrapolation from the way your arms are exiting the water, I would guess that you are leading with your elbow during the pull and your hand us rarely going past your hips. This is just a "guess" based on many years of experience. If this is the case, the way you are implementing "High elbow catch" is incorrect.
Just my two cents worth. Pool video is really imperative.
