I've tried really hard for the past week or so, granted no one ever taught me how to swim freestyle, i tried by observing others and reading here along with books, videos, etc.
So far I've tried- really reach for the light bulb method from one of the DVD forgot the name, where you try to swim on a streamline position, rotate through my hips, elbows high, fingertips dragging along water surface.
My coach told me to try to keep my chin close to my chest and rotate that way - tried that and I drink water.
Sculling and try to pretend that i'm pushing water behind me and pulling myself forward, none of this help.
My stroke count is horrid at 25-26 per 25 meter, and I'm slow as a snail.
Is there anything else I can do? I'm already swimming with the masters class and i am not sure keep pushing myself to do the sets will get me anywhere?
Thanks for letting me rant, but maybe i'm just hopeless?!
Originally posted by fayewolf
i am not understanding how it is different from the conventional swimming lessons/books.
The buzz words are the same, I think TI does a better job of telling how to get there. (At least the book version, as I have never done the clinic.) So after it tells you what your goal is, it says what to work on, and (more importantly) what it will feel like when it is done right. In Colwin's book, he points out that there can be a huge gap between what the swimmer thinks they are doing, and what they are doing. A swimmer who thinks they are swimming with straight arms during the pull, will have the elbow bent at 90 degrees, for example.
I've had my coaches point out that my stroke length was getting shorter in some of my swims. When I hear that, my instinct is to reach forward and push as far back as possible. In the TI book, it mentions that although it can help, this is not the best way to really get more distance per stroke. And then makes suggestions. (I don't have the book in front of me right now, so I'd rather not type a mistake from memory.)
Originally posted by fayewolf
i am not understanding how it is different from the conventional swimming lessons/books.
The buzz words are the same, I think TI does a better job of telling how to get there. (At least the book version, as I have never done the clinic.) So after it tells you what your goal is, it says what to work on, and (more importantly) what it will feel like when it is done right. In Colwin's book, he points out that there can be a huge gap between what the swimmer thinks they are doing, and what they are doing. A swimmer who thinks they are swimming with straight arms during the pull, will have the elbow bent at 90 degrees, for example.
I've had my coaches point out that my stroke length was getting shorter in some of my swims. When I hear that, my instinct is to reach forward and push as far back as possible. In the TI book, it mentions that although it can help, this is not the best way to really get more distance per stroke. And then makes suggestions. (I don't have the book in front of me right now, so I'd rather not type a mistake from memory.)
