Today one of my teammates, probably the fastest swimmer on our team, was telling me that I should think of aiming my hands toward the bottom of the opposite end of the pool rather than of reaching forward before catching. When I watched him swim, it still looked like he was extending forward, so I'm not sure if the move is just subtle or "a feeling" or if it is really a change of arm angle. When I tried to reach down, I felt like I wasn't getting full extension, but he said it looked better. I don't want to go through what feels like a fundamental stroke change unless I'm sure I understand what I'm supposed to be doing. Can someone enlighten me? Thanks!
I think what he might have meant is that the hands need to sink a bit before you start executing the pull. If you stretch out as far in front of you as possible, and your hands are still more or less right under the water's surface when you start to pull, you will be pushing on the water in a primarily downwards vector. This won't help you move forward--it will just tire you out and get you nowhere (okay, it might make you bob up a bit.)
As much of the pull as possible should ideally go in a horizontal vector parallel with your body. And you can't do this until the hands have dropped low enough so that they can start moving in this direction. Good freestylers show a little patience in this regard. Your hands should spear, stretch, drop a little, then pull. Think of reaching your arms over a large log. As you near the position necessary to grab the log, that's when you start the pull.
I think that's what your friend means...
I think what he might have meant is that the hands need to sink a bit before you start executing the pull. If you stretch out as far in front of you as possible, and your hands are still more or less right under the water's surface when you start to pull, you will be pushing on the water in a primarily downwards vector. This won't help you move forward--it will just tire you out and get you nowhere (okay, it might make you bob up a bit.)
As much of the pull as possible should ideally go in a horizontal vector parallel with your body. And you can't do this until the hands have dropped low enough so that they can start moving in this direction. Good freestylers show a little patience in this regard. Your hands should spear, stretch, drop a little, then pull. Think of reaching your arms over a large log. As you near the position necessary to grab the log, that's when you start the pull.
I think that's what your friend means...
