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?!
Former Member
Originally posted by geochuck
Just give us the drills you want to do we may be able to help you. Here are some easy ones swimming.about.com/.../Freestyl_Drills_3.htm
Very interesting!! I can't wait to try these out.
I guess aside from Masters, I need to set aside some time to swim alone, i can't really do these drills during the normal workout, but do you think it's weird to do that during lap swimming time?
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.)
Well I thought I would finally chime in. :cool: Just wanted to see what all the other advise is because I am always looking for ideas too!
I spent about a year in the slow lane, a lot of times with fins so I could keep up with the 80+ year old that shared the lane with me. It just takes time. There is so much to learn, and top of that swimming shape to get into. Plus, when you are trying so hard, you end up tightening up and fighting against yourself. All of us newbies do that, and it is part of the learning process.
Keep plugging away, keep asking that coach questions, ask your fellow swimmers questions, shoot, ask the lifeguard questions, many are swimmers or former swimmers.
don't give up, break throughs come in chunks, and just when you think you will never ever get it, bang it comes.
Never, never give up. The payoff for hanging in there is too great. Remember progress is progress no matter how small. Suggestions on this forum are great. Good coaching/instruction is priceless. I swim with several great swimmers and I learn a lot by observing their stroke.
It is very normal to have one side better than the other. I was working with my daughters private coach and he had me balancing on my side and I chose my right because it is better. He was pleased with the progress wanted me to switch.....I did not want to because the other side, well, it needs work.
I cannot answer your TI question, but there were many, many times when I began that I did every other time because I could not make the send off.
Also, does the coach give different level send-offs. Because if the coach is not doing this and everyone is on the same send-off, maybe you could have a suggestion that there be different send-offs for different levels. It is harder for the coach, but there is no way I could make the send offs some people on this board make, and there is no way some people in my group could make my send-offs. We had a coach who only gave one send-off, geared toward the fastest lane, and this really frustrated the slower people. So when a new coach came in, and asked, how do you want work-outs set up, overwhelmingly, everyone said, by levels.
I'm 34 and never really been officially trained. I have no idea how I learned swimming, but i've swam the breaststroke for years when I was young, every summer we go to the beach and swim. I prob didn't swim at all since i was like 12. :(
I just tried out some drills today, very minimal swimming, just drills, they are very different and kinda fun!!
First of all, if i use the side gliding (i dont' know what this is call- one arm extended out, the other rest on yoru side, and you are turned sideways, and let your head rest on your arm and do flutter kick, i actually move!!)
the weird thing is i can only do it on my right but not my left. i wasn't confident enough to push my head/buoy down and my legs sink, and then i drink water.
I also did the catching drill and it was fun.
I also found out that my left arm cannot do that S thing that my right arm does.
I'll tell the coach all that next week.
