It's amazing how easy we can develop very bad technique. I often see people swim with horrible technique that just makes me cringe. Never thought I'd have issues controlling my own body but last night i did.
I was doing my first 400 yards a couple of days ago with ease, but as i was swimming my flip turns gradually became worse to a point where i was rolling sideways rather then a straight flip turn into a push. No biggie, i figured i was just tired.
So last night i go into the pool and started with an easy 50. To my surprise, i was notable to do a proper flip Turn to save my life! My hands and body kept turning sideways as i was doing the flip. I was shocked. It took the following 30 minutes to get back to where i was 2 months ago, just flipping properly (facing up) from a stand still.
What is wrong? what did i do wrong? Does these things ever happen to you? I was shocked that a single swim imprinted such bad technique in my mind and on my body. I was so depressed last night, i didn't even swim. If a single workout damaged my turns so much, how hard hard is it to correct improper swimming technique?
Former Member
Everyone has a bad workout. They are more bothersome coming off of a series of good workouts. Just know that they come and try to get through it. For me, a bad workout can result from lack of sleep, hunger, general irritability, bad day at work, temperature of the pool, whether I am sharing a lane and with whom, etc.
If you feel you have developed some bad habits, go back to the basics. Drill work is best for me to get me back on track. Even the greatest athletes have had to go back to basics. Best example is George Brett who was really having a tough time at bat early in the season. He stayed after practice every night and worked on basic drills. That year, he came close to batting .400. Tiger Woods works on his fundamentals 14 hours a day and even this phenom misses the cut on occasion.
Personally, I try to focus on the quality of my workouts, not the amount of yardage. There are days that I will hang up my suit after only 45 mins and there are other days where I swim for much longer. I figure I'm too old to have to stick around for a bad workout if I don't want to.
I like the golf analogy. The good thing is no one throws kick boards or pull buoy's when bad technique makes things difficult.;) If you play golf, when you take a lesson you usually address a particular problem area. I try to tackle problem areas in swimming the same way work that area until it becomes like second nature. One step at a time, and there are always more steps.
Got Boost
DB -
Are you turning by sumersaulting and ending up on your side? If you are, most folks will tell you it is bad technique but I wouldn't worry too much about it. Your body is just getting ahead of itself since it knows it needs to rotate over once you're done with the sumersault.
My turns have been that way for years; unless during a turn for backstroke, I almost never flip and end up on my back. I end up rotating towards my left during the sumersault and end up having only 90° left to turn instead of 180°. For me personally, I find I have a lot more power if I do it that way.
Dorian don't be discouraged. You have to look at this like golf. there is no "perfect" just the best that you can do. forget the bad ones, take what you need from the experience to correct it, and let it go. Remeber the good ones, the ones that felt right for two reasons. A) Good habits and imprinting start with visualisation. B) You'll smile more.
This doesn't mean you have to brag about your good moments but don't be ashamed to enjoy them.
Keep practising and discovering.
DB -
Are you turning by sumersaulting and ending up on your side? If you are, most folks will tell you it is bad technique but I wouldn't worry too much about it. Your body is just getting ahead of itself since it knows it needs to rotate over once you're done with the sumersault.
My turns have been that way for years; unless during a turn for backstroke, I almost never flip and end up on my back. I end up rotating towards my left during the sumersault and end up having only 90° left to turn instead of 180°. For me personally, I find I have a lot more power if I do it that way.
I agree with Muppet. I've seen that "diagonal" turn instructed too. I think provided you're turn fast and smooth you'll be ok. I don't tumble much. I've got to start or I'll be do 7 open turns in the 200 Free at NEM LOL.
I agree with you guys that that in itself is not such a bad thing. The only problem is my body was rotating even when i tried to force myself not to. It was almost as if it was doing it against my will. With my hands and hips sculling/rotating on its own. It was almost horrific because i was forcing my body NOT to do it yet it kept happening. The real scary thing is to see how powerless your mind is against imprinted habits. I hope last night was just a VERY bad day.
Dorianblade, don't you dare give up on problem areas with swimming; I've had so many problems all through the years, that I always could pick and choose what to work on; I was never without working on Something!!
When I freestyle flip, I flip directly over, arms & hands at my side, but I place my feet and lower legs on the wall toward the end of that flip at a side angle so when I am fully flipped, I am on my side ready to push off.
You have made a lot of progress; just blow it off and keep working on it. Some full somersaults in the pool might help; I used to do this all the time perfecting my flip with arms at my sides.
donna
I think these setbacks are normal and you'll get through it soon.
I had a similiar experience with my flips. I didn't learn to do it until I was 50 or 51 and I was making good progress, then all of a sudden one day it all went away like I had never done one before. After about a week of frustration it came back and my turns were actually better than before. So be patient and ride it out.
I agree with you guys that that in itself is not such a bad thing. The only problem is my body was rotating even when i tried to force myself not to. It was almost as if it was doing it against my will. With my hands and hips sculling/rotating on its own. It was almost horrific because i was forcing my body NOT to do it yet it kept happening. The real scary thing is to see how powerless your mind is against imprinted habits. I hope last night was just a VERY bad day.
Does your lower back feel weak or hurt?
I notice that I automatically do this when I am really hurting back there. Don't worry about it if the speed of the turn is the same as your "normal" turn... I used to swim with a distance swimmer who did this - and every single one of his turns was like what you are describing... he would place 1st or 2nd at State in his events - so don't fret too much!
Maybe you're just a little stiff or something. Do some light stretches for your back before your swim... plus a little Icy Hot couldn't hurt to loosen things up.
