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
Thanks to everyone for the input and reality check.
It seems to me that if you try to see your hand enter, your face would either need to be way too far forward (neck craned upward)--which we all agree is a bad thing--or you would have to wait until the hand is lower in the water, starting the catch, by which time it is too late to turn and breathe.
Personally I follow a version of what Mark Varney outlines, doing it by "feel" and then "leaning" on the extended arm to initiate the roll to breathe.
Experts differ I guess. As Dylan said, "Don't follow leaders, watch yer parking meters."
Thanks to everyone for the input and reality check.
It seems to me that if you try to see your hand enter, your face would either need to be way too far forward (neck craned upward)--which we all agree is a bad thing--or you would have to wait until the hand is lower in the water, starting the catch, by which time it is too late to turn and breathe.
Personally I follow a version of what Mark Varney outlines, doing it by "feel" and then "leaning" on the extended arm to initiate the roll to breathe.
Experts differ I guess. As Dylan said, "Don't follow leaders, watch yer parking meters."
