After watching a video on my freestyle, I seem to have an upward lift or jerk with my head when I breathe. It appears my head may be a little low in the water (hips are up ok) and when I go to breathe I get this jerking motion instead a smooth roll. I have about 1 + 1/4 goggles out of the water at the top of the breath. I've been all over the map with head position........is there any drills or imagery which could smooth out this? Or is this related more to a potential problem with arm swing and trying to vault over the anchor? thanks
Parents
Former Member
Well, then knowing you are rolling is a good thing! You know, it may just be that you are not "sure" you will get that breath and are doing only what you know for sure will get you that breath of air; jerking forward and up before breathing. When I breathe, my mouth is just barely clear of the waterline but it was developed over a lot of swimming time and I found I could trust it in that position. It may just be your brain doesn't accept it yet and is doing what it knows will work.
We all have "little things" that we have to work on a lot and it is different for each of us. For instance, I am a right-side breather and really want to breathe on the left side, too, and I spent a full year trying to do it and I still can't; I get physically dizzy when I breathe on the opposite side plus my neck is now not flexible on that side and I get a headache. So, I will work on it for another year (sigh)....
Here is a chant for you: breathe to the side, not up...
Donna
Well, then knowing you are rolling is a good thing! You know, it may just be that you are not "sure" you will get that breath and are doing only what you know for sure will get you that breath of air; jerking forward and up before breathing. When I breathe, my mouth is just barely clear of the waterline but it was developed over a lot of swimming time and I found I could trust it in that position. It may just be your brain doesn't accept it yet and is doing what it knows will work.
We all have "little things" that we have to work on a lot and it is different for each of us. For instance, I am a right-side breather and really want to breathe on the left side, too, and I spent a full year trying to do it and I still can't; I get physically dizzy when I breathe on the opposite side plus my neck is now not flexible on that side and I get a headache. So, I will work on it for another year (sigh)....
Here is a chant for you: breathe to the side, not up...
Donna
