I think there are a number of reasons we unilateral breathers have "weak" sides when breathing:
our head motion (the path it takes when breathing) is different. I'm pretty sure I have a strong tendency to lift my head when breathing on my weak side. If I focus on not doing that and peak back toward my left shoulder and elbow I do a bit better.
we are probably flatter in the water (don't roll as well) to the weak side.
the extension of our opposite arm when breathing is different (much weaker catch). I extend well with my left arm (breathe well on to my right), but not so much with my right arm. Consequently, I will find that sometimes my right arm is halfway through the pull while I'm mid-breath.
things fall apart much more when we're tired.
These are things I've noticed about my own breathing asymmetries. I can do okay for a time if I concentrate on them. But then I'm not concentrating on all the other things I need to pay attention to. The last point suggests to me that spending a little time getting the mechanics down when you're fresh is worthwhile. Once you have the mechanics down in the best situations, try a bit of breath work after a hard set when you're gassed.
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I think there are a number of reasons we unilateral breathers have "weak" sides when breathing:
our head motion (the path it takes when breathing) is different. I'm pretty sure I have a strong tendency to lift my head when breathing on my weak side. If I focus on not doing that and peak back toward my left shoulder and elbow I do a bit better.
we are probably flatter in the water (don't roll as well) to the weak side.
the extension of our opposite arm when breathing is different (much weaker catch). I extend well with my left arm (breathe well on to my right), but not so much with my right arm. Consequently, I will find that sometimes my right arm is halfway through the pull while I'm mid-breath.
things fall apart much more when we're tired.
These are things I've noticed about my own breathing asymmetries. I can do okay for a time if I concentrate on them. But then I'm not concentrating on all the other things I need to pay attention to. The last point suggests to me that spending a little time getting the mechanics down when you're fresh is worthwhile. Once you have the mechanics down in the best situations, try a bit of breath work after a hard set when you're gassed.
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