I have been endeavouring to improve my freestyle stroke for some time and am now confused. I am hoping someone may have some advice.
For years I just swam thinking all I had to do was rotate my arms and kick to get to the other end. Once I could get to the other end I began to focus on technique.
I read Terry Laughlin's total immersion aiming to increase stroke length by fully extending the leading arm and practising front quandrant swimming by only commencing the catch and pull when the other arm "caught up" to the leading arm.
I have also been in a technique class however they suggest the leading arm should not be extended but should remain curved as the leading hand enters the water. They suggest the catch and pull should commence as soon as the leading hand enters the water. This is a completely different technique to that explained in Total Immersion.
I understand there are different techniques and suspect it is a matter of identifying what works best for the individual. I would be interested in other swimmers views and which technique they prefer.
Regards - John
Parents
Former Member
Originally posted by TheGoodSmith
"Also, Jonathon, remember that there are as many different explanations of swimming as there are at least the number of coaches."
I couldn't agree with you more. Coaching swimming... as with many sports.... has an "art" factor or shall we call it an "intuition" or "subjective" factor. We see this a lot in taper philosophies and a coach's ability to "read" people during taper and make strategic decision on rest and recovery. Everyone is different physically. When you get to the most elite level, subtle refinements and changes in stroke mechanics between competitors are usually, in my opinion, not as important. It's the core of talent (i.e. genetics) combined with mental toughness and background training that really make the difference....... not the smaller differences in stroke techique.
John Smith
John,
How is that we agree on almost everything?
I am tall & thin. I was really a runner who could swim pretty well. I had several unimportant coaches when I was a kid. I got a good coach after I was out of college & my swimming really. that was when I really began to improved and understand swimming. I still put in a lot of yards daily and it has mad me tough and actually helped my stroke.
Originally posted by TheGoodSmith
"Also, Jonathon, remember that there are as many different explanations of swimming as there are at least the number of coaches."
I couldn't agree with you more. Coaching swimming... as with many sports.... has an "art" factor or shall we call it an "intuition" or "subjective" factor. We see this a lot in taper philosophies and a coach's ability to "read" people during taper and make strategic decision on rest and recovery. Everyone is different physically. When you get to the most elite level, subtle refinements and changes in stroke mechanics between competitors are usually, in my opinion, not as important. It's the core of talent (i.e. genetics) combined with mental toughness and background training that really make the difference....... not the smaller differences in stroke techique.
John Smith
John,
How is that we agree on almost everything?
I am tall & thin. I was really a runner who could swim pretty well. I had several unimportant coaches when I was a kid. I got a good coach after I was out of college & my swimming really. that was when I really began to improved and understand swimming. I still put in a lot of yards daily and it has mad me tough and actually helped my stroke.
