So I finally got some video of myself and my son up. This is the first time I'm seeing myself swim, and I'm horrified, lol.
My self-critique: Elbows not high enough, not extending arms very well, arms crossing midline a little on extension, and extending hand almost pushing water a little. Please feel free to add anything, and I'd appreciate advice on drills to address my specific weaknesses (and my son's).
www.youtube.com/watchwww.youtube.com/watch
My son's critique: Elbows drop some, he tends to pull a little too much to the outside rather than down the middle, and his left arm tends to go left on extension. Believe it or not he's much faster than the last time I posted video, he's gotten his 25m time down to 26 sec from 45 when the season started. Please add anything.
www.youtube.com/watchwww.youtube.com/watch
Thanks guys.
Parents
Former Member
Notice elbow dropping on 2nd, 3rd and 4th videos. It occurs as you extend before you get to the catch. When I see this I tell my students they are pushing water in the wrong direction.
I also noticed you right arm hitting the water when your hand enters again I prefer a clean entry. I also do not like your kick you have the legs too far apart. I like to see the big toes almost touching.
I think geochuck's right. your hand submerges before your elbow extends, so you end up extending underwater, thereby pushing the water forward and creating reverse propulsion.
He's also right in asserting that your two arms have two different styles. Your left arm has a slightly exaggerated out-of-water motion, and your right arm has a barely-out-then-quickly-back-in motion that ends in a slap. Again, that stems from your insistence on breathing to one side. As you get accustomed to breathing to one side, your arms eventually start taking on different duties to accommodate your style of breathing. Your stroke becomes one designed to maximize breathing time. Thus, your breathing arm tends to make big overarm recoveries to maximize the time you have to breathe and the quality of breath (keeps the water out of your mouth), while the non-breathing arm is useless to you, and so it barely comes out before slapping back in.
Notice elbow dropping on 2nd, 3rd and 4th videos. It occurs as you extend before you get to the catch. When I see this I tell my students they are pushing water in the wrong direction.
I also noticed you right arm hitting the water when your hand enters again I prefer a clean entry. I also do not like your kick you have the legs too far apart. I like to see the big toes almost touching.
I think geochuck's right. your hand submerges before your elbow extends, so you end up extending underwater, thereby pushing the water forward and creating reverse propulsion.
He's also right in asserting that your two arms have two different styles. Your left arm has a slightly exaggerated out-of-water motion, and your right arm has a barely-out-then-quickly-back-in motion that ends in a slap. Again, that stems from your insistence on breathing to one side. As you get accustomed to breathing to one side, your arms eventually start taking on different duties to accommodate your style of breathing. Your stroke becomes one designed to maximize breathing time. Thus, your breathing arm tends to make big overarm recoveries to maximize the time you have to breathe and the quality of breath (keeps the water out of your mouth), while the non-breathing arm is useless to you, and so it barely comes out before slapping back in.
