Hi everyone,
Since there is so much experience and expertise on this board, I thought I would open up a discussion about how to prevent people from swimming crooked. I know that many people new to swimming have this problem.
I'll go first.
I have found that most people swim crooked when they breathe. From observation, what happens is when they turn their head to breathe, the support arm (non-breathing arm) travels across their centerline toward the breathing side. Then, when the support arm goes to do the pull, the arm is not in alignment with the shoulder. It is too far past the centerline and catches and pulls water more from the other side of their body. Thus, they travel to the opposite side. Also, I have found that many people still close their eyes and sometimes aren't even aware of this.
I overcame the swimming crooked when it was pointed out to me. I also had the great privilege of swimming with Navy divers and they would blindfold us and we would swim 25s. We learned how to feel what body balance was; both sides of the body doing the same thing. And, it really didn't take that long to correct the swimming crooked.
Please share your thoughts on this subject.
:woot:
Donna
Parents
Former Member
Dorianblade,
I do believe I use that drill a lot, swimming on the side with one arm extended and one at the side. I do it for about 10 to 20 kicks and then reverse sides and continue with it for about 100 yards. It has helped my brain to get accustomed to being on my side, even though it is exaggerated. Plus, it's good to flutter sidekick; I feel different muscles being used!!!
And, I am one of those swimmers who does not swim flat (low) like many others here that use TI. I prefer to swim on top of the water so I am usually looking about a yard ahead, not straight down. And, because I swim in the ocean only, no pools here, I have no pool line to follow so I must rely on body balance in order to swim straight, current or not. It is amazing what the body can accomplish if we listen to it. Swimming straight has been something I can just "do" regardless of ocean waves, etc.
Also, I might add that triathlete swimmers could really benefit from learning to feel and swim straight. Many times the reason I do so well in our triathlon swim down here is because I follow no one. I look at the buoy once and maybe miss it by a foot. Many of these swimmers follow the person in front of them and they are way off course. In my first triathlon down here, there was a group of 6 swimmers who just veered off to the right and I kept swimming straight. I didn't even have to pass them; their lack of navigation did them in :p
But your suggestions were truly great ones. I just hope that all of these suggestions can help those swimmers who have a problem with swimming crooked!!!
Donna
Dorianblade,
I do believe I use that drill a lot, swimming on the side with one arm extended and one at the side. I do it for about 10 to 20 kicks and then reverse sides and continue with it for about 100 yards. It has helped my brain to get accustomed to being on my side, even though it is exaggerated. Plus, it's good to flutter sidekick; I feel different muscles being used!!!
And, I am one of those swimmers who does not swim flat (low) like many others here that use TI. I prefer to swim on top of the water so I am usually looking about a yard ahead, not straight down. And, because I swim in the ocean only, no pools here, I have no pool line to follow so I must rely on body balance in order to swim straight, current or not. It is amazing what the body can accomplish if we listen to it. Swimming straight has been something I can just "do" regardless of ocean waves, etc.
Also, I might add that triathlete swimmers could really benefit from learning to feel and swim straight. Many times the reason I do so well in our triathlon swim down here is because I follow no one. I look at the buoy once and maybe miss it by a foot. Many of these swimmers follow the person in front of them and they are way off course. In my first triathlon down here, there was a group of 6 swimmers who just veered off to the right and I kept swimming straight. I didn't even have to pass them; their lack of navigation did them in :p
But your suggestions were truly great ones. I just hope that all of these suggestions can help those swimmers who have a problem with swimming crooked!!!
Donna
