One of the lifeguards at the pool told me today that he noticed that my right elbow clears the water higher than my left elbow. I have been aware of this for a while but haven't done anything about it.
In fact, I am all right-body. I breathe only to the right. My right arm is more developed than my left arm. My right arm pulls effortlessly past the hip whereas my left tails off near the waist. My right leg kicks with a strong THUMP THUMP and my left with a whimper.
What exercises should I be doing in the pool to correct this imbalance?
What exercises should I be doing out of the pool?
sincerely Syd
PS. I borrowed the term 'ugly' side from another thread. It was coined by someone else (sorry, can't remember who) and used to refer to the weak side.
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Former Member
Get a center-mounted snorkel and swim a lot with it.
This sounds like a good idea. I notice my stroke is much more even when I do 'no breathers' or when I am sprinting (sprinting because I am breathing less or in the case of a 25, hardly breathing at all).
Something I have done alot of recently (at caoches insistance) is breathing on the left side for specific sets. There is no other way but JUST DO IT! Break the old habits and make new ones. You'll be slow and feel strange at first, but after a while it will feel better, faster and make you feel more even.
Yes, I know I have to do this. It feels awkward and I feel like I don't get enough breath to my left side. It messes up my rhythm. But I am going to persevere. I have spent the last 3 weeks changing from a 2 beat crossover kick to a 6 beat kick. That felt unbelievably awkward at first but now it is starting to feel much better. I guess this will be the same.
Everyone favors one side for breathing ...and the head motion combined with the arm coming down can give the feeling that the stroke feels heavier one on side over the other. Thorpe has a very balanced underwater stroke...but sometimes from the surface it seems as if he has a lope.
www.youtube.com/watch
It's a very natural rhythm
If it truly is ugly as you described...A good way to even this out might be done with some bilateral breathing.
Or better yet, try swimming one lap breathing on your pretty side...and one lap on your ugly side.
As long as the lope doesn't get splashy or take away forward momentum...it shouldn't be a cause for concern.
In fact, your underwater may be balanced quite well.
It might be best to start off with breathing to the left side, then slowly incorporate bilateral breathing. Currently I am working on strengthing my left side for fly by doing lots of one arm fly drills with my left arm. In the space of two weeks I can already feel the difference.
Thanks for your suggestions. Much appreciated.
Syd
Get a center-mounted snorkel and swim a lot with it.
This sounds like a good idea. I notice my stroke is much more even when I do 'no breathers' or when I am sprinting (sprinting because I am breathing less or in the case of a 25, hardly breathing at all).
Something I have done alot of recently (at caoches insistance) is breathing on the left side for specific sets. There is no other way but JUST DO IT! Break the old habits and make new ones. You'll be slow and feel strange at first, but after a while it will feel better, faster and make you feel more even.
Yes, I know I have to do this. It feels awkward and I feel like I don't get enough breath to my left side. It messes up my rhythm. But I am going to persevere. I have spent the last 3 weeks changing from a 2 beat crossover kick to a 6 beat kick. That felt unbelievably awkward at first but now it is starting to feel much better. I guess this will be the same.
Everyone favors one side for breathing ...and the head motion combined with the arm coming down can give the feeling that the stroke feels heavier one on side over the other. Thorpe has a very balanced underwater stroke...but sometimes from the surface it seems as if he has a lope.
www.youtube.com/watch
It's a very natural rhythm
If it truly is ugly as you described...A good way to even this out might be done with some bilateral breathing.
Or better yet, try swimming one lap breathing on your pretty side...and one lap on your ugly side.
As long as the lope doesn't get splashy or take away forward momentum...it shouldn't be a cause for concern.
In fact, your underwater may be balanced quite well.
It might be best to start off with breathing to the left side, then slowly incorporate bilateral breathing. Currently I am working on strengthing my left side for fly by doing lots of one arm fly drills with my left arm. In the space of two weeks I can already feel the difference.
Thanks for your suggestions. Much appreciated.
Syd
