When doing laps - how do you swim straight instead of swimming from side to side>
Parents
Former Member
This may sarcastic, but it isn't meant to be: Are you swimming with your eyes open? The only reason I ask is that I've noticed some novice swimmers swimming with eyes closed, even with goggles.
Is there a line on the bottom of the pool, down the center of the lane? Using it as a guide is an easy spotting method. If you're in a lane by yourself, just swim right on top of it. If you're sharing, figure out how far to the side of it you need to swim to stay on your side of the lane. The word of caution is that some people are drawn to the line and end up swimming down the middle instead of staying on their side of the lane. Just concentrate on keeping a constant distance.
You can also use the lane ropes to spot yourself. When you turn your head to breathe, look at the rope. If you're too close, swim away. If you're too far away, drift back to it. Since I swim in frustratingly narrow lanes, I use a combination of spotting off the line on the bottom and checking myself against the rope when I turn my head to make sure I haven't drifted too far one way or the other.
Both methods require that your eyes stay open, however (hence my first question). Almost all swimmers will swim a curved course if they don't have something off which they can spot. It will come easier to you with practice and concentration.
This may sarcastic, but it isn't meant to be: Are you swimming with your eyes open? The only reason I ask is that I've noticed some novice swimmers swimming with eyes closed, even with goggles.
Is there a line on the bottom of the pool, down the center of the lane? Using it as a guide is an easy spotting method. If you're in a lane by yourself, just swim right on top of it. If you're sharing, figure out how far to the side of it you need to swim to stay on your side of the lane. The word of caution is that some people are drawn to the line and end up swimming down the middle instead of staying on their side of the lane. Just concentrate on keeping a constant distance.
You can also use the lane ropes to spot yourself. When you turn your head to breathe, look at the rope. If you're too close, swim away. If you're too far away, drift back to it. Since I swim in frustratingly narrow lanes, I use a combination of spotting off the line on the bottom and checking myself against the rope when I turn my head to make sure I haven't drifted too far one way or the other.
Both methods require that your eyes stay open, however (hence my first question). Almost all swimmers will swim a curved course if they don't have something off which they can spot. It will come easier to you with practice and concentration.
