ok, I've been working on my free stroke quite a bit, but still feel like something's off. My coach said that when done correctly it should feel like my front hand is getting pulled through the water, and that there should not be and resistance felt on that hand.
Well, I still feel resistance most of the time and I'm wondering if I'm leaning on the hand too much, or perhaps my head position is not correct.. Does anyone know what i'm talking about or any ways to correct this?
thanks,
Jeanette.
ps.. we used the stretch cords in practice last night for the first time. It was so much fun! (well at least the coming back from the far wall was) lol.. Has anyone else used these and what do you think of them?
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Former Member
Thanks. My pleasure to share.
The imagery can be helpful because almost every swimmer has a practice when the hands just don't have the right feel, like they slip through the water. If you were also able to imagine swimming as if you had a hand attached at the elbow joint, the sensation will be much different. The focus is on the arms and not the hands. A high elbow guarantees that you'll have a longer stroke which you can throw more power into. The barrel idea does exactly that.
Aside from arm motion, kicking is also a key ingredient to all this. The rythm of the kick has a great deal to do with timing the body roll. The kick is not so much for added thrust, but for providing the leverage in getting the mid-section to roll on each arm cycle. The *roll* is essential to getting into a rythm where the body rides slightly on it's side to engage the powerful back and abdominal muscles.
It really helps to have a mental diagram of a very simple concept instead of thinking too much and too hard. There's so much going on when you think about the synchronisity of all the motions involved in swimming.... Sensory overload can be overwhelming. Keeping it simple works.
Thanks. My pleasure to share.
The imagery can be helpful because almost every swimmer has a practice when the hands just don't have the right feel, like they slip through the water. If you were also able to imagine swimming as if you had a hand attached at the elbow joint, the sensation will be much different. The focus is on the arms and not the hands. A high elbow guarantees that you'll have a longer stroke which you can throw more power into. The barrel idea does exactly that.
Aside from arm motion, kicking is also a key ingredient to all this. The rythm of the kick has a great deal to do with timing the body roll. The kick is not so much for added thrust, but for providing the leverage in getting the mid-section to roll on each arm cycle. The *roll* is essential to getting into a rythm where the body rides slightly on it's side to engage the powerful back and abdominal muscles.
It really helps to have a mental diagram of a very simple concept instead of thinking too much and too hard. There's so much going on when you think about the synchronisity of all the motions involved in swimming.... Sensory overload can be overwhelming. Keeping it simple works.
