Just got some videos - need critique

RE: Just got some videos - need critique

Former Member — Fri, 22 Mar 2019 12:50:11 GMT

Just my two cents worth. Pool video is really imperative. Just asked and confirmed that the school pool I use really does not allow us to take video inside.

RE: Just got some videos - need critique

Swimspire — Fri, 22 Mar 2019 01:31:10 GMT

If your goggles are giving you issues in terms of difficulty seeing when you are sighting, you can also try out some anti-fog solutions. These are my favorites: www.swimspire.com/.../ In terms of your scissor kick tendency, I have taken a screenshot so you can see it here more clearly. 11870 Whether you are sighting or not, an exaggerated scissor kick like yours causes you to lose momentum, essentially like putting on the brakes in the middle of your swim. You can practice the Tarzan drill (also called Head Up or Polo drill) to work on maintaining a continuous, narrow kick even while you are sighting. Good luck!

RE: Just got some videos - need critique

Swimspire — Thu, 21 Mar 2019 12:59:52 GMT

I think overall if you started out as a relative beginner with regular training only about 10 months ago, and mostly on your own, you've made great strides! You seem to have read a lot and gained knowledge about swimming, had a video analysis done, and come to enjoy and love the sport. Elements you need to continue to work on include improving your current kicking technique, as others have mentioned - this is a detriment to your continued progress. You also need to work on improving your balance and symmetry - learning bilateral breathing to ensure that you have balanced strength and stability on both sides of the body, and also learning how to keep the vertical axis of your body still while rotating around the axis. All of these improvements need to be worked on more in the pool, as opposed to the open water. Wearing goggles is very important, as advised, because they allow you to focus more on your stroke without the discomfort of water in your eyes and reduced vision. Although it's easier to make stroke critiques, the more difficult part is learning exactly how to implement technical corrections into your routine training in order to improve your stroke. Ideally, this should be done with a coach, someone who understands your specific needs and who can help devise workouts that will combine technique work with increased conditioning so that you have a good balance of both. Regardless of your level, you always have to continuously work on perfecting your stroke while also developing conditioning. A good coach can help you maintain this balance and maximize the use of your training time. Good luck!

RE: Just got some videos - need critique

ForceDJ — Thu, 21 Mar 2019 11:02:04 GMT

It seems to me that you are not wearing any goggles. Is that correct? Yes it is correct. I didn't notice that. But since that's the case...I will suggest that you do wear some...especially for the open water. Not for any reason like to protect your eyes or anything (although that would be important). But because, especially for new swimmers, having clear vision in the water just seems to make you more comfortable in the water. And, it has always been my observation that a new swimmer being comfortable in the water seems to contribute to a better stroke. That being said...I do know experienced pool, and open-water swimmers that go 'sans goggle.' But "experienced" is the key word there. Dan

RE: Just got some videos - need critique

Former Member — Thu, 21 Mar 2019 09:56:36 GMT

Sometimes I don't use a goggle in open water because it makes my sighting worse in competition.

RE: Just got some videos - need critique

Windrath — Thu, 21 Mar 2019 08:30:58 GMT

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.

RE: Just got some videos - need critique

Former Member — Wed, 20 Mar 2019 13:22:22 GMT

It seems to me that you are not wearing any goggles. Is that correct? Yes it is correct.

RE: Just got some videos - need critique

Swimspire — Wed, 20 Mar 2019 08:05:25 GMT

It seems to me that you are not wearing any goggles. Is that correct?

RE: Just got some videos - need critique

mjtyson — Tue, 19 Mar 2019 01:29:29 GMT

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!

RE: Just got some videos - need critique

mjtyson — Tue, 19 Mar 2019 01:28:18 GMT

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.)

RE: Just got some videos - need critique

ForceDJ — Mon, 18 Mar 2019 10:51:16 GMT

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

RE: Just got some videos - need critique

Former Member — Sun, 17 Mar 2019 13:51:05 GMT

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)

RE: Just got some videos - need critique

ForceDJ — Sun, 17 Mar 2019 10:20:24 GMT

RE: Just got some videos - need critique

Jeff Enge — Sun, 17 Mar 2019 08:29:11 GMT

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.