I have always been a good breaststroker. I can swim breaststroke for 1-2 miles without stopping with no problem. But I can't swim freestyle for a long distance. I have to stop and take a 30 second break for every 100 yards. Does anyone know what my problem is? Perhaps I don't have the correct technique? I have noticed when I am swimming freestyle, I don't feel as relax as when I am swimming breaststroke. Perhaps just lack of practice? Please help.
By the way, have anyone tried TI swimming? Is it worth it to take the TI workshop? Thank you all for your help.
Former Member
How is your breathing technique in freestyle? That would be my first suggestion knowing that you have good endurance in a stroke in which you can breathe every stroke.
TI is good and it might do somebody like yourself a lot of good. A DVD might be just what the doctor ordered.
I have always been a good breaststroker. I can swim breaststroke for 1-2 miles without stopping with no problem. But I can't swim freestyle for a long distance. I have to stop and take a 30 second break for every 100 yards. Does anyone know what my problem is? Perhaps I don't have the correct technique? I have noticed when I am swimming freestyle, I don't feel as relax as when I am swimming breaststroke. Perhaps just lack of practice? Please help.
By the way, have anyone tried TI swimming? Is it worth it to take the TI workshop? Thank you all for your help.
Are you fulling exhaling under water? You should breathe out under water. Sorry if that sounds obvious, but I know a lot of people that don't realize this. The next thing to do would be as was suggested to figure out your breathing pattern. Try every 2, every 3, 4, and 5 and see what is most comfortable. I advocate breathing 2/3/2, but I need to do that to balance my stroke out.
Also, congrats on swimming that far breaststroke, I would rather :frustrated: than swim that much breaststroke. Also, word of warning that much breaststroke can start to reek havoc on your knees!
I reduced my stroke count by 20% with the same speed by applying TI.
I used to have the similar problem like yours in freestyle. Longer strokes gives you a bit more time to breath. I'm trying to make sure to exhale completely in the water before I turn to breath; that helps me to cruise more. That's one reason (I think) that you do not face this problem in breaststroke (due to longer strokes). But, ofcourse I would recommend you to have a coach if possible to correct your freestyle.
Enjoy your newfreestyle
:coffee:
Ah the endless TI debate ... I personally, do not adhere to it, others do ... there doesn't seem to be any one right answer in this sport ... I'd take lessons, that way someone can actually watch your stroke and tell you what you are doing right and what to change just my :2cents:
Can you get the TI book from the library, and start there so you can see if it helps without shelling out money? Lessons are good, or even ask someone who looks like they know what they are doing to watch you. Our age group coach has the National team in the water some mornings with the lap swimmers, and I have noticed her helping someo of them when they ask her for help.
I agree with Dorothy and Heather about this one. Before I would put forth money to re-learn a swimming technique, I would first look to someone at your pool that swims well, swims long, and swims easy. Many swimmers will want to help others and often feel privileged to try to help another swimmer. If not, there probably is a coach at your pool, whether it be a Masters or Age Group coach and they will give you advice and information about addressing your needs.
I would try this route first before I invested money and time on any "new way." What you need to find is your best method of swimming regardless of the title of the technique. And many swimmers do develop their own style of swimming through the months and years, and it serves them well.
And I do agree that not exhaling your air when your face is in the water will lead to hyperventilation and not being able to breathe well which leads to fatigue.
Where do you live?
Donna
Thank you all for your valuable inputs.
I only breath on the right; I breath every other stroke. I think you guys have pointed out one of my problems, which is I don't breath out under water prior to take the next breath; yeah, this could be one of the reasons why I feel tired when I swim freestyle. But the strange thing is when I swim breaststroke, breath or w/o breath under water do not make any different for me???
Should I buy TI training DVD and try it first or should I just sign up for the lessons? I heard people told me that when you learn TI techniques, you have to un-learn everything that you have learned; is that true? This might be tough for me, since I have been swimming for 25 years.
Again, thank you all for your inputs.
Thank you Coach T. for those video clips. I watched them and they are very helpful.
Islansox, I live in Southern California, a suburban town called Northridge (30 minutes NW from Los Angeles).
I used to swim 18-20 strokes for 25 yard length. After reading you guys' inputs, I went to the pool last night and tried to exhale under water and relax my body, I reduced number of strokes down to 15-16 and I don't feel as tired as I used to. Wow, what an improvement. Your inputs are so valuable. Again, thank you all for your inputs. I have learned a lots from this forum.
Swim for life!
