I'm a fairly new competitve swimmer (although I'm gonna be 50 this year). I'm reading a book entitled "The Essential Swimmer" by Steve Tarpinian. He's telling me that the water line for freestyle should be somewhere between my goggles and my cap (hairline) on my forehead. Is this right? I've been swimming all this time (started last August) with my head straight down. Seems to me that I'm gonna get quite a neck ache swimming that way, but if that's correct I'll start today! Any help is appreciated.
Doug
Parents
Former Member
There's some good information on this web site under 'Training' which will link into articles on technique.
Coach Emmett Hines has written an excellent book titled Fitness Swimming, and he is the author of the following article:
(www.usms.org/.../airgrav.htm)
From personal experience (after a twenty year taper) I discovered that head facing down will make for a much more even flow of water around your upper body and helps keep those hips high. Less drag makes swimming easier, and ultimately makes you swim faster. I was once from the 'hydroplane' school of thought when we were taught to look forward towards the far end of the pool. If we only knew then what we know now.
There's some good information on this web site under 'Training' which will link into articles on technique.
Coach Emmett Hines has written an excellent book titled Fitness Swimming, and he is the author of the following article:
(www.usms.org/.../airgrav.htm)
From personal experience (after a twenty year taper) I discovered that head facing down will make for a much more even flow of water around your upper body and helps keep those hips high. Less drag makes swimming easier, and ultimately makes you swim faster. I was once from the 'hydroplane' school of thought when we were taught to look forward towards the far end of the pool. If we only knew then what we know now.
