Freestyle Stroke Technique

... Is there supposed to be that sort of "pause" before the ballistic motion of swinging the arm back (in the windmill fashion)? Try reading the (part of the) article I mention in this post about how Ian Thorpe has a pause in his stroke: forums.usms.org/showthread.php You may find the rest of that thread (and links) useful as well. I mention it again in this post: forums.usms.org/showthread.php You may find that thread (and links) useful as well. I know the archives can seem rather cluttered, but once you learn how to search them (especially the advanced search which allows user name & key words) , you will find a whole lot of good information for what you are looking for. Great vid of Phelps... love the fishbowl shot! Thanks! If you can get vids loaded into Quicktime you can pause them and then use the arrow L&R keys to advance them one frame at a time... excellent tool for analysis! Also, I guess I don't really understand how to breathe properly. When I turn my head to the side I often suck in water. In the videos of the elite races I can't even see their face come out of the water! How do you get the breath? As previously mentioned... body roll is important. As you study up on this it will be more obvious. Coach Emmet Hines has some good articles on this. Additionally... as you gain momentum (reduce wiggle, gain steady balance and head position, etc.) you will notice that a small wallow forms in the water, like a bow wave, this is why it appears that some swimmers are breathing under water. If you watch enough vids (or swimmers) you will eventually "get" this. While this youtube vid of Alexander Popov swimming technique does not really illustrate this, you may find some of the tips and examples useful. Have Fun!

... Is there supposed to be that sort of "pause" before the ballistic motion of swinging the arm back (in the windmill fashion)? Try reading the (part of the) article I mention in this post about how Ian Thorpe has a pause in his stroke: forums.usms.org/showthread.php You may find the rest of that thread (and links) useful as well. I mention it again in this post: forums.usms.org/showthread.php You may find that thread (and links) useful as well. I know the archives can seem rather cluttered, but once you learn how to search them (especially the advanced search which allows user name & key words) , you will find a whole lot of good information for what you are looking for. Great vid of Phelps... love the fishbowl shot! Thanks! If you can get vids loaded into Quicktime you can pause them and then use the arrow L&R keys to advance them one frame at a time... excellent tool for analysis! Also, I guess I don't really understand how to breathe properly. When I turn my head to the side I often suck in water. In the videos of the elite races I can't even see their face come out of the water! How do you get the breath? As previously mentioned... body roll is important. As you study up on this it will be more obvious. Coach Emmet Hines has some good articles on this. Additionally... as you gain momentum (reduce wiggle, gain steady balance and head position, etc.) you will notice that a small wallow forms in the water, like a bow wave, this is why it appears that some swimmers are breathing under water. If you watch enough vids (or swimmers) you will eventually "get" this. While this youtube vid of Alexander Popov swimming technique does not really illustrate this, you may find some of the tips and examples useful. Have Fun!