Whats the best thing you've ever learnt to do when swimming..i think the thing that helped me was less strokes per length(stroke count)?
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Former Member
Hey! Fun question for this relative newbie swimmer. I JUST learned that I shouldn't exhale the entire time my face is under the water, or else my buoyancy level drops; I should "explosively" exhale (my description) just before breathing. That keeps me higher in the water. Is that right? Or was someone making that up?
I also was just told that on butterfly, I should imagine a tennis ball under my chin and that I should try to hold it there throughout the stroke. Of course, I don't get to look at the end of the pool when I do that, but it's been interesting trying to make that change.
Maddie Crippen (an Olympian who trains at my pool - gosh I'm lucky.......) was "coaching" a triathlete at the pool this morning and she suggested that the swimmer imagine that he was in a box; every movement of his stroke should stay in that box (I suppose to avoid windmilling and going to deep after the catch and staying long and strong). Does that sound right? Of course, the box that I imagine is a coffin; anyone else have a better idea?????
Of course, I believe it was Mr. Hines who suggested that, when streamlining, imagine that your top hand is covering the wristwatch on the bottom hand (to keep wrist over wrist, I suppose). I LOVE that one; I believe he also said that, no matter how lousy a swimmer you are, if you have a beautiful streamline, you'll impress everyone on the pool deck. Now THERE's a useful tip!!!
And, finally, just *this* year, I was taught the female trick of the trade to going to the bathroom without taking off a wet tight racing suit. I suspect I was the only female on the planet who struggled for 10 minutes trying to pull up a wet suit after doing her little business, but let me know privately if you don't know this trick;)
Kathy
Hey! Fun question for this relative newbie swimmer. I JUST learned that I shouldn't exhale the entire time my face is under the water, or else my buoyancy level drops; I should "explosively" exhale (my description) just before breathing. That keeps me higher in the water. Is that right? Or was someone making that up?
I also was just told that on butterfly, I should imagine a tennis ball under my chin and that I should try to hold it there throughout the stroke. Of course, I don't get to look at the end of the pool when I do that, but it's been interesting trying to make that change.
Maddie Crippen (an Olympian who trains at my pool - gosh I'm lucky.......) was "coaching" a triathlete at the pool this morning and she suggested that the swimmer imagine that he was in a box; every movement of his stroke should stay in that box (I suppose to avoid windmilling and going to deep after the catch and staying long and strong). Does that sound right? Of course, the box that I imagine is a coffin; anyone else have a better idea?????
Of course, I believe it was Mr. Hines who suggested that, when streamlining, imagine that your top hand is covering the wristwatch on the bottom hand (to keep wrist over wrist, I suppose). I LOVE that one; I believe he also said that, no matter how lousy a swimmer you are, if you have a beautiful streamline, you'll impress everyone on the pool deck. Now THERE's a useful tip!!!
And, finally, just *this* year, I was taught the female trick of the trade to going to the bathroom without taking off a wet tight racing suit. I suspect I was the only female on the planet who struggled for 10 minutes trying to pull up a wet suit after doing her little business, but let me know privately if you don't know this trick;)
Kathy
