I have been trying to learn how to do a decent front crawl. With the help of many Forum users I have made some progress improving the arm pull, kick and breathing - as separate elements of the total motion. I am having trouble synchronizing the kicks with the pulls. Right now I think I am just kicking at a fast, steady rate (probably too fast), whatever the arms are doing. It doesn't feel natural. At what points in the arm pull do the kicks occur?
Thanks, as ever, for your help.
BTW, I looked into the class that they have at my facility, but everybody is waaay too advanced (they work on diving in and flip turns - ack! - I'd probably drown).
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Former Member
Interesting post by "Kopie". I agree that swimming should be done by "feel" looking for an efficient "flowing" stroke. When swimming is done well it is an effortless, rythmic, flowing dance in tune with the water. The joy in experiencing that feeling is why I keep swimming. When you have that flow, it is exhilarating.
The average runner I am sure is working damn hard in the water and does not experience this. However I am sure that runners do get this effortless feeling when they run sometimes.
I agree that trying too hard, straining muscles or being too exact can be a problem. When you consciously direct a muscle it automatically tenses to a degree.
The problem is that correct hand and limb placement, accurate body positioning and exact timing is needed to be able to swim this way. I am aware of the danger of trying to 'force' swimmers to swim a certain way, each has an individual technique related to their flexibility and body shape etc.
Effective technique is needed and has to be taught and learnt, through drills and purposeful whole swimming first. You do need to direct the path of your hands until it is automatic, then you can swim "by feel."
There is the long period of skill aquisition when movements are directed and mistakes are corrected that has to be gone through before we can expect the swimmer to swim without thinking hard about what he is doing. I have one swimmer who automatically swims with exquisite flow, but my other swimmers are not there yet.
Most runners are better off with a 2 beat kick of low intensity as their ankles are so tight. I have them wear fins a lot and they help them to pick up the subtle feedback that the water gives them as well as helping to stretch those ankles !
Anyway, just my thoughts, I like your posts a lot.
Interesting post by "Kopie". I agree that swimming should be done by "feel" looking for an efficient "flowing" stroke. When swimming is done well it is an effortless, rythmic, flowing dance in tune with the water. The joy in experiencing that feeling is why I keep swimming. When you have that flow, it is exhilarating.
The average runner I am sure is working damn hard in the water and does not experience this. However I am sure that runners do get this effortless feeling when they run sometimes.
I agree that trying too hard, straining muscles or being too exact can be a problem. When you consciously direct a muscle it automatically tenses to a degree.
The problem is that correct hand and limb placement, accurate body positioning and exact timing is needed to be able to swim this way. I am aware of the danger of trying to 'force' swimmers to swim a certain way, each has an individual technique related to their flexibility and body shape etc.
Effective technique is needed and has to be taught and learnt, through drills and purposeful whole swimming first. You do need to direct the path of your hands until it is automatic, then you can swim "by feel."
There is the long period of skill aquisition when movements are directed and mistakes are corrected that has to be gone through before we can expect the swimmer to swim without thinking hard about what he is doing. I have one swimmer who automatically swims with exquisite flow, but my other swimmers are not there yet.
Most runners are better off with a 2 beat kick of low intensity as their ankles are so tight. I have them wear fins a lot and they help them to pick up the subtle feedback that the water gives them as well as helping to stretch those ankles !
Anyway, just my thoughts, I like your posts a lot.
