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
Stussy96 has it down for the backstroke breathing. Many people find a breathing pattern using the arm strokes; one stroke breathe in, one stroke breathe out. But when it came to my swimming the 50, all bets were off because the stroke rate was too high. I just always breathe when I need air and somehow, over the years, it has all worked out.
Not swimming backstroke crooked may be a whole new pandora's box, but because this was my stroke for most of my life, I learned body balance and stroking the same on both sides. This did not develop overnight; it took practice just like anything else. Slow down and have patience; do some 25s and try to swim the same with each arm stroke and kick.
When learning to swim straight in backstroke, and because I was in indoor pools, I would look at the beams on the ceiling. In an outdoor pool, you really have to rely more on feel when stroking and making sure you finish the stroke on each side at the same place on the body.
For me, this whole not swimming crooked thing came down to the feel of body balance.
:groovy:Donna
Stussy96 has it down for the backstroke breathing. Many people find a breathing pattern using the arm strokes; one stroke breathe in, one stroke breathe out. But when it came to my swimming the 50, all bets were off because the stroke rate was too high. I just always breathe when I need air and somehow, over the years, it has all worked out.
Not swimming backstroke crooked may be a whole new pandora's box, but because this was my stroke for most of my life, I learned body balance and stroking the same on both sides. This did not develop overnight; it took practice just like anything else. Slow down and have patience; do some 25s and try to swim the same with each arm stroke and kick.
When learning to swim straight in backstroke, and because I was in indoor pools, I would look at the beams on the ceiling. In an outdoor pool, you really have to rely more on feel when stroking and making sure you finish the stroke on each side at the same place on the body.
For me, this whole not swimming crooked thing came down to the feel of body balance.
:groovy:Donna
