After poking around here for a while and seeing good results from a lot of the stuff you guys have been discussing (an integrated kick, ankle flexibility etc etc.) I decided it was finaly time for me to attempt to integrate more of my core muscles into freestyle rather than simply trying to pull my way through practice.
So this brings me to my question, when I was attempting to integrate my core more, I was essentially using my hand as a lever against which to snap my torso, thereby bringing the pulling arm back and extending the other arm, is this the right idea or is there something else i should be going for?
Former Member
The hand and forearm are connected to the core by tendons and muscles. It all happens automatically. I can tweek a muscle in your back and you can feel it in your finger tips. I can tweek a tendon in the front of your shoulder and your leg will jump up and down.
This video of DEM Bones shows how they are all connected www.youtube.com/watch
Some believe you have to wait for things to happen. Just swimming will make it happen.
I am sure it will happen naturaly with a little help from a good instructor/coach.
Very few swimmers, have in actuality, a difficulty pushing water backward . Core muscle groups as defined very well in this web article;
www.brianmac.co.uk/corestab.htm
Are important support mechanisms of the body. It’s important to understand that when you push water too fast, water loses its leveraging or drag potential (the ability to hold water). When you pull water too fast it creates a vortex (tornado) behind the hand and ineffective propulsion is a result. So, instead of snapping the torso, experiment to find the optimum speed you can use by timing your 25’s and documenting DPS(distance per stroke) improvements or digressions. Finding that tempo or pace is not easy but important.
Don’t forget to take the time to “set-up” your stroke or put your hand and forearm in the best EVF position possible. Like most sport skills, unless you start out in the best position , the effectiveness of the end result will be compromised.
Good luck and Happy New Year, Coach T.
