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?
Parents
Former Member
I have a good rule of thumb about this. Try not to look too far forward or your head will ride high, and this will cause the hips to sink. Not good. The hand entry can be viewed but try rolling the eyeballs up, and keep that chin down.
Also, about the timing issue. The head should rotate back into a face down position before the elbow on the recovering arm has entered a "twelve o'clock position". Rather than focus on the recovery arm for your que to send the pie hole back into the water, focus on the underwater arm. Get the head back into face down position before the recovery arm has swept past your shoulder. Lean on that arm in the water to turn your torso and head. By the time this arm is moving past the shoulder, time is up. Get your face back into the water. Time to roll for the other side to take a stroke.
Streamlined swimming is all in the head. Both literally and mentally. If you think of your skull as the bow of a ship, you'll come to realize that the most efficent motion through the water is done with a steady head that holds your body line straight and provides minimal resistance. The head position can either puts the brakes on, or send you sailing along. Next time you're driving down the road, hold your hand out the window fingertips first. Lift it up as if to say hello, and feel the resistance. Keep it low, and flat, and and the air will flow. Same stuff in the pool with regard to your head.
I have a good rule of thumb about this. Try not to look too far forward or your head will ride high, and this will cause the hips to sink. Not good. The hand entry can be viewed but try rolling the eyeballs up, and keep that chin down.
Also, about the timing issue. The head should rotate back into a face down position before the elbow on the recovering arm has entered a "twelve o'clock position". Rather than focus on the recovery arm for your que to send the pie hole back into the water, focus on the underwater arm. Get the head back into face down position before the recovery arm has swept past your shoulder. Lean on that arm in the water to turn your torso and head. By the time this arm is moving past the shoulder, time is up. Get your face back into the water. Time to roll for the other side to take a stroke.
Streamlined swimming is all in the head. Both literally and mentally. If you think of your skull as the bow of a ship, you'll come to realize that the most efficent motion through the water is done with a steady head that holds your body line straight and provides minimal resistance. The head position can either puts the brakes on, or send you sailing along. Next time you're driving down the road, hold your hand out the window fingertips first. Lift it up as if to say hello, and feel the resistance. Keep it low, and flat, and and the air will flow. Same stuff in the pool with regard to your head.
