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?
Parents
Former Member
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.
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.
