Speed

Thanks everyone. The problem is, i don't swim faster when i TRY to swim faster. it's actually when i relax and fall into a rhythm that i actually swim fastest... Maybe that's your answer. Wait until you get into that relaxed rhythm and do just three or four strokes in the middle of a length that are a faster cadence than the rest, then get straight back into the rhythm. Aim at staying just as relaxed in those few strokes as for the rest of the length. Work at this for a few weeks, then add a few more of the faster ones, until eventually you can do the entire length at this cadence, then aim at putting two of these lengths together, etc. I know where you're coming from, I seem to have about 4 fast twitch muscles in my whole body. I've been working at the relaxed-but-faster thing and so far am up to 25 meters of it. Still not "fast", but at least "faster".

1. Get stronger - Solid strength training program 2. Sprint in practice - 12.5's and 25's all out but relaxed, no "muscle" 3. Don't drop your elbows at any part during the stroke (finger tips always below elbows) Above all else, if you want to swim fast, you must practice swimming fast. Good luck!

Whoa i'm confused...when i say it takes me 21 strokes i mean counting each arm as one stroke--is that correct? ... I believe even if i sprint, it still takes me almost 45 seconds to do 50 meters. My stroke feels good, in that i feel like i could do it forever and not get tired...but it hasn't translated into faster speed. i don't know that there is a right or wrong way to count... it is always best to clarify in text though. in places like this forum, to be on the safe side, i always specify 'pulls' ("each arm as one stroke") or 'complete stroke cycles' (each time the same arm returns to the same position). this clarification is only necessary with back crawl and front crawl ('free'), as fly and *** have simultaneous arm movements. since i always start to swim in a streamlined position, arms in front, i count each time my arm(s) return to that position, at the end of the recovery. for back and 'free'... if i'm counting each pull i count every time either the L or R arm enters the water. if i'm counting complete stroke cycles (which is easier), i count each time the arm i took the first pull with enters the water at the end of the recovery... and with this method, if i finish the pool length with the other arm i count it as a half stroke. i hope this helps to end your confusion. have you seen the other thread going now on Stroke Count Estimation? it is fairly technical, but it deals with the same subject in a different way. and a few important points are brought up... which could very well be what's holding you back speed-wise (but it is difficult to say for sure, without actually seeing you swim). the basic concept is that you do not 'push' the water behind you as you swim, but rather you 'pull' yourself through the water. the idea is that on the 'catch' (the moment at the end of the recovery, after the entry, when the hand 'grabs' the water) you "anchor" your hand in the water, and pull your body forward. a good analogy i've heard is that it is more like climbing up a ladder, or pulling yourself through the water by pulling on a rope. ideally, as the theory goes, your hand should exit the water in the same spot it enters. this can be seen rather easily from the side of the pool while swimming next to a lane line. the viewer can fix their eye on the lane line at the spot where your hand enters the water, then compare that to the spot where your hand exits the water. the further "behind" that your hand exits,the more 'slippage' (and less anchoring) your hand is generating. a video or a swim buddy can help you with this. does this make any sense to you? if you search this forum on various terms like slippage, sculling, stroke count, etc. you can frequently find some good information (but it does take time). here is one thread on hand positioning you may find useful: open/closed handed freestyle?? elusive speed... i've seen many posts here citing swimming as being a superior sport because it relies so much on technique. i can't argue against that point. you can be the strongest, best conditioned person on Earth, but if you don't have the technique, you simply won't be the fastest swimmer. try relaxing into your stroke... i know that is when i feel fastest. relaxation in the recovery is really critical. but learning to only activate the muscles you need to go forward, and relaxing the rest, is probably the most important thing to learn. studying Yoga can help a lot in better understanding this concept. have fun!