Hi, I am a decent distance swimmer--my worst stroke is freestyle. I am finally getting more flexible, thanks to yoga and rotation from the core is working better. I did TI drills and like many, I'm sure, developed a poor habit of over-rotating the freestyle. Recently, I was told I don't lead with my elbow - I am rather straight armed. I can do fingertip drag drills, which are very relaxed, but don't swim fast at all if I try to convert that into a stroke. I am in excellent shape - an ex runner for 30 years, I spin, play tennis, lift, yoga and swim 10-12 miles a week. How relaxed is the arm supposed to be in the recovery phase? Is the recovery the same motion as the fingertip drag drill? Thanks very much for any help you can give to a very frustrated freestyler.:dunno:
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Former Member
I view the fingertip drill as an exaggeration of the correct recovery. The fingertip drill forces the elbow high and bent. But because your fingertips are dragging across the surface you will be forced to reach forward to get proper extension. No elite freestyler looks like they are doing the fingertip drill.
I would look at the video below on Alexander Popov for a good example of phenomenal technique.
www.youtube.com/watch
BTW - some elite swimmers have a very straight recovery - particularly female. Janet Evans is a great example.
I view the fingertip drill as an exaggeration of the correct recovery. The fingertip drill forces the elbow high and bent. But because your fingertips are dragging across the surface you will be forced to reach forward to get proper extension. No elite freestyler looks like they are doing the fingertip drill.
I would look at the video below on Alexander Popov for a good example of phenomenal technique.
www.youtube.com/watch
BTW - some elite swimmers have a very straight recovery - particularly female. Janet Evans is a great example.
