I learn the four strokes as a kid. But what is it like for you that learned it as adults. I was amazed that some adults are like age groupers better at some strokes than others.
Parents
Former Member
Well, I learned to swim as an adult. When I started taking lessons, my teacher had me try both the crawl and a modified *** stroke (*** stroke arm pull, with a flutter kick.) After watching my first pitiful attempts, he said that the *** stroke was the most likely stroke to work for me. (I later heard that at one timethe Red Cross said the *** stroke and the side stroke were often the easiest for adults to learn.) So, I concentrated on that. Even so, it was hard to learn--I spent many hours practicing. (I can remember one day when I was the only person in the pool. I felt sorry for the lifeguard, who had to sit and watch my pitiful attempts for forty-five minutes.) However, part of the problem wasn't just the mechanics--it was the fact that I was also having to overcome a healthy terror of water. It finally did start working, and less than six months later I was able to swim non-stop for half a mile with a reasonably correct *** stroke.
With that taken care of, I started working on the crawl. By that time, I was playing a bit with diving, and I'd use my crawl to get me from the diving board to the wall. (Safety nuts are shuddering--although I knew if something went wrong, my *** stroke would save me.)
For a long time, I'd say that my *** stroke was better. But, I liked it better than the crawl--the only reason I really cared about the crawl was that many pools technically require 25 yards of non-stop crawl before you can dive. Adults don't get tested, but I felt that in the spirit of being a good swimmer citizen, I should have that distance. Even if my *** stroke was faster and lasted longer.
More recently, I've used the crawl more. It has been a challenge trying to make it work--I've been told it doesn't look too bad, but I can tell that there are problems. I'm not as good with my *** stroke as I once was (I was away from swimming for a while, and I haven't used my *** stroke as much now that I've come back.) But, I do think my *** stroke might potentially, be my "best stroke."
I can do a pitiful racing back stroke, and a limited inverted *** stroke. I could do both better, except I don't like the back stroke--I get bored looking at the ceiling. I like the bottom of the pool, because the light patterns are so pretty. I can also do the side stroke--again, not well. At one time, I used it a lot, since I could swim laps and watch the good divers practice. I can't do the butterfly, although I think I might be able to learn it if I worked at it.
Well, I learned to swim as an adult. When I started taking lessons, my teacher had me try both the crawl and a modified *** stroke (*** stroke arm pull, with a flutter kick.) After watching my first pitiful attempts, he said that the *** stroke was the most likely stroke to work for me. (I later heard that at one timethe Red Cross said the *** stroke and the side stroke were often the easiest for adults to learn.) So, I concentrated on that. Even so, it was hard to learn--I spent many hours practicing. (I can remember one day when I was the only person in the pool. I felt sorry for the lifeguard, who had to sit and watch my pitiful attempts for forty-five minutes.) However, part of the problem wasn't just the mechanics--it was the fact that I was also having to overcome a healthy terror of water. It finally did start working, and less than six months later I was able to swim non-stop for half a mile with a reasonably correct *** stroke.
With that taken care of, I started working on the crawl. By that time, I was playing a bit with diving, and I'd use my crawl to get me from the diving board to the wall. (Safety nuts are shuddering--although I knew if something went wrong, my *** stroke would save me.)
For a long time, I'd say that my *** stroke was better. But, I liked it better than the crawl--the only reason I really cared about the crawl was that many pools technically require 25 yards of non-stop crawl before you can dive. Adults don't get tested, but I felt that in the spirit of being a good swimmer citizen, I should have that distance. Even if my *** stroke was faster and lasted longer.
More recently, I've used the crawl more. It has been a challenge trying to make it work--I've been told it doesn't look too bad, but I can tell that there are problems. I'm not as good with my *** stroke as I once was (I was away from swimming for a while, and I haven't used my *** stroke as much now that I've come back.) But, I do think my *** stroke might potentially, be my "best stroke."
I can do a pitiful racing back stroke, and a limited inverted *** stroke. I could do both better, except I don't like the back stroke--I get bored looking at the ceiling. I like the bottom of the pool, because the light patterns are so pretty. I can also do the side stroke--again, not well. At one time, I used it a lot, since I could swim laps and watch the good divers practice. I can't do the butterfly, although I think I might be able to learn it if I worked at it.
