Using the lats in freesyle

I am a new swimmer trying to improve my freestyle stroke and was also wondering myself yesterday while swimming was I using my arm, shoulder or lat muscles in my stroke and in what proportion to each other. I understand what you are saying about the finer points but I was wanting to be sure I wasn't overworking a muscle group or just using my shoulders and not my lats enough, for example. How do I know, as I am swimming, that the lats are doing their work and earning their keep, does it as you say, it just happens with the right technique or can I put more emphasis on the lats when swimming. Also, thanks for all the great advise on this board, I have without doubt improved my swimming with better technique rather than happily splashing up and down the pool all day. Thanks

I am a new swimmer trying to improve my freestyle stroke and was also wondering myself yesterday while swimming was I using my arm, shoulder or lat muscles in my stroke and in what proportion to each other. I understand what you are saying about the finer points but I was wanting to be sure I wasn't overworking a muscle group or just using my shoulders and not my lats enough, for example. How do I know, as I am swimming, that the lats are doing their work and earning their keep, does it as you say, it just happens with the right technique or can I put more emphasis on the lats when swimming. Also, thanks for all the great advise on this board, I have without doubt improved my swimming with better technique rather than happily splashing up and down the pool all day. Thanks