i know there has been a number of posts/threads on this topic and i did search the archives, but i still wanted to post this thread. ok, so i've been trying to learn freestyle since 2005, and i still haven't got the breathing right. this has been really frustrating for me. i practice almost every day on a pool that is about 5' 5'' deep at one end. i have done a lot of research-hours of youtubing and checking out swimfast dvds have resulted in nothing! i've invested about $200 into private lessons, with no significant output! my goal is very simple-to swim freestyle laps in a 25 yard pool; is that asking for too much? i'm not interested in the other difficult strokes! i think my problem lies in the fact that i don't breathe out air completely before breathing in! are there any drills to work on that? also, some swimmers say that breath out through your nose, and some say through your mouth-i'm confused! if anyone can help me out, i'd really appreciate it! i want to learn this thing, and as you can see, i don't want to give up! TIA!
Parents
Former Member
Just because you are anchoring your arms doesn't mean you have to apply a lot of force. If I were you I would spend some time learning to swim with the right positioning and technique but applying almost no force - just practicing going through the correct motions. If you have good balance you should be able to do it completely relaxed with very little expenditure of energy. This totally relaxed approach may also help you integrate the various elements of your stroke as any time you find yourself having to exert force you know it is because you are compensating for some flaw.
Video of your stroke would be very helpful.
Just because you are anchoring your arms doesn't mean you have to apply a lot of force. If I were you I would spend some time learning to swim with the right positioning and technique but applying almost no force - just practicing going through the correct motions. If you have good balance you should be able to do it completely relaxed with very little expenditure of energy. This totally relaxed approach may also help you integrate the various elements of your stroke as any time you find yourself having to exert force you know it is because you are compensating for some flaw.
Video of your stroke would be very helpful.
