In Cecil Colwin's book "Breakthrough Swimming," the author writes that in freestyle the swimmer should "SEE THE HAND ENTER BEFORE TURNING THE HEAD TO BREATHE." He makes this point several times and refers to it as "a stroke fundamental."
Is there general agreement that this is correct? Should you actually be able to see your forward hand enter the water before turning (rotating) to breathe?
I understand that Coach Colwin is making a point that some swimmers have a tendancy to breathe too early in the stroke, but it seems to me that if you try see your hands as they enter and extend just under the surface, you must look upward, your head position then becomes too far forward and out out of alignment with your body.
Does anyone have any experience with this or an opinion about it?
Hmm... I hadn't thought about that before, about how forward you can see if your head is in the right position.
In pools with bright overhead lights (or the sun), you can see your shadow on the pool bottom. So *obviously*, he meant you can see your shadow hand stretching out, before you breathe. :)
Hmm... I hadn't thought about that before, about how forward you can see if your head is in the right position.
In pools with bright overhead lights (or the sun), you can see your shadow on the pool bottom. So *obviously*, he meant you can see your shadow hand stretching out, before you breathe. :)
