Hi
I love swimming but I am not very fast! My problem is that when I swim freestyle my lower torso - I am female (bottom,hips) sinks and I feel like a boat that cannot get up onto a plane...if you know what I mean. I have tried kicking faster but I am more into long distance swimming and this gets too tiring.
Is there a better way to postion my body in the water when swimming freestyle so as to get the rear bits floating higher?
Thanks.
Parents
Former Member
First thing is to do is relax.
The idea is to not kick faster, but arch the lower back a bit more. Possibly use a pull buoy between the thighs and just pull with your arms. Get the sensations of your bum/legs being up in the water rather than using the pulling as a drill set. Note how the back/stomach feel with the pull buoy and try to mimic the same position with swimming the whole stroke.
Also try working on your "core" which is a fancy way of saying get your stomach and back muscles in shape. This will help with the legs and bum coming up in the water.
This may sound silly, but how about some side stroke drills with an elongated reach and glide? As the legs come together in the scissor kick have them as close to the surface of the water as possible as well as the whole side of the body. This could be a good way to get a feel for the water and will help with the technique of the freestyle.
First thing is to do is relax.
The idea is to not kick faster, but arch the lower back a bit more. Possibly use a pull buoy between the thighs and just pull with your arms. Get the sensations of your bum/legs being up in the water rather than using the pulling as a drill set. Note how the back/stomach feel with the pull buoy and try to mimic the same position with swimming the whole stroke.
Also try working on your "core" which is a fancy way of saying get your stomach and back muscles in shape. This will help with the legs and bum coming up in the water.
This may sound silly, but how about some side stroke drills with an elongated reach and glide? As the legs come together in the scissor kick have them as close to the surface of the water as possible as well as the whole side of the body. This could be a good way to get a feel for the water and will help with the technique of the freestyle.
