If we are supposed to be, in the front crawl, always rolling from side to side, what are the advantages of not breathing every other stroke or breathing less and swimming straight? Or should we roll to the side even though not taking a breath? Or is is the fact that the moving of your head a little more to take the breath making more drag? I can see the not breathing an issue in fly because breathing breaks the natural porpoising of the body. The more I swim the fly without breathing the faster I go, so I have to dwell with that, but in freestyle what is the deal? Newbie questions again. billy fanstone
Parents
Former Member
...every time a swimmer turns the head to breathe, there is great torque on the opposite shoulder. So for us who breathe every stroke, the opposite shoulder is carrying a great burden all of the time...
Good observation Donna. I am a bi-lateral breather becuase it was drummed into me when I started swimming competitively. It is comfortable to breathe on both sides now and I am greatful for that because it helps with the achy shoulder issue. When I do longer swims (over 400) I tend to do more one-sided breathing every stroke to get more air; however, I noticed that my non-breathing shoulder would start to ache as I "rested" on it. So, now, I try to switch sides each lap--breathe on one side for a few strokes, then do a three stroke switch and breathe on the other side for a few, etc. This has really helped the "opposite shoulder burden" problem.
And, I do feel "balanced" and keep a good role regardless of how I'm breathing, but since I've been doing it for so long, I can't say if it's because bi-lateral is comfortable, or because the roll just feels right. Also, I notice the shoulder stress more in practice than in meets. Me thinks it has something to do with the other swimmers wake--I breathe away from them, but sometimes it feels like I lift the head a little to get over the wake. Any thoughts on this from the peanut gallery?
Dana
...every time a swimmer turns the head to breathe, there is great torque on the opposite shoulder. So for us who breathe every stroke, the opposite shoulder is carrying a great burden all of the time...
Good observation Donna. I am a bi-lateral breather becuase it was drummed into me when I started swimming competitively. It is comfortable to breathe on both sides now and I am greatful for that because it helps with the achy shoulder issue. When I do longer swims (over 400) I tend to do more one-sided breathing every stroke to get more air; however, I noticed that my non-breathing shoulder would start to ache as I "rested" on it. So, now, I try to switch sides each lap--breathe on one side for a few strokes, then do a three stroke switch and breathe on the other side for a few, etc. This has really helped the "opposite shoulder burden" problem.
And, I do feel "balanced" and keep a good role regardless of how I'm breathing, but since I've been doing it for so long, I can't say if it's because bi-lateral is comfortable, or because the roll just feels right. Also, I notice the shoulder stress more in practice than in meets. Me thinks it has something to do with the other swimmers wake--I breathe away from them, but sometimes it feels like I lift the head a little to get over the wake. Any thoughts on this from the peanut gallery?
Dana
