Hello,
I am a veteran runner, but new to swimming. I've always known how to tread water, but didn't have a formal swim lesson until about five weeks ago. I guess I've had about 10 lessons.
Thinking it would improve my stroke, I participated in a Total Immersion workshop over the weekend. Anyone who knows about TI can probably guess what my dilemma is now.....I was told to never go back to swimming the old way again.
Last night I returned to the pool for an already scheduled swim lesson with my regular instructor. I was a bit discombobulated, to say the least.
Today I spoke with a few co-workers who swim and got varied opinions on whether I should go the TI route or stick with what I've been doing for the past five weeks.
Please share your insights and experience with me!
Thanks!
Cheryl
Parents
Former Member
If you are new to swimming do not join a masters group and just try to churn out yardage. You really should be spending your time mastering your technique. As to how to learn that technique... I like TI at the beginning level. There are a lot of people on this forum that take issue with it, but if you look at most of the debate threads the arguments tend to be about semantics and whether TI is the right way for elite swimmers. What TI teaches a beginner -- balance, streamlining, core-body rotation, focus on technique -- is hard to argue with. Whether you should stick with your current teacher or only do TI? Depends on the teacher. There are lots of "swim teachers" that unfortunately are not too sophisticated about technique. But there are plenty of teachers who really know what they are doing, TI and non-TI. Ask your current teacher what drills he likes to practice balance. If he looks at you like you're speaking a foreign language then you probably should find a new teacher. Good luck
If you are new to swimming do not join a masters group and just try to churn out yardage. You really should be spending your time mastering your technique. As to how to learn that technique... I like TI at the beginning level. There are a lot of people on this forum that take issue with it, but if you look at most of the debate threads the arguments tend to be about semantics and whether TI is the right way for elite swimmers. What TI teaches a beginner -- balance, streamlining, core-body rotation, focus on technique -- is hard to argue with. Whether you should stick with your current teacher or only do TI? Depends on the teacher. There are lots of "swim teachers" that unfortunately are not too sophisticated about technique. But there are plenty of teachers who really know what they are doing, TI and non-TI. Ask your current teacher what drills he likes to practice balance. If he looks at you like you're speaking a foreign language then you probably should find a new teacher. Good luck
