Although I swim a lot, I almost never swim continuously lap after lap. I always stop after 1 length, then do another one. Not that I can't continue, but I want to improve my form and technique before counting distance and speed (besides, I don't know how to do flip turns :( ). If bad forms are not corrected in early stages, swimming long distance will only make them bad habits, the longer, the worse, and harder to correct. On the other hand, this makes my swim too easy and relaxed, without any pressure. "Improving form and technique" can go on indefinitely! I wonder when I should start counting speed and distance?
So I would be interested to know, when you gradually became a better swimmer from a newbie, when did you start counting how long you have swum (continuously), and to look at the clock to count speed? :confused:
Parents
Former Member
When I first went back to swimming after several decades away, I did open turns. The only problem with that was, it allowed me to grab the gutter... and STOP when I wanted... not necessarily when I NEEDED to stop. By switching to a flip turn I didn't have the 'option' of grabbing the side and stopping. I would agree with everyone, start working on 50's. Use an open turn if you must, but you might want to learn how to do a flip turn (it isn't terribly hard to learn. In fact, I taught myself in about an hour and an half of doing a complete flip, moving closer to wall with each successful flip. Once I felt comfortable flipping close to the wall I moved to the back stroke flags, swam slowly toward the wall and did complete flips until that felt comfortable; then I tried swimming toward the wall, flipping, planting my feet and pushing off on my back in streamline. After that became comfortable I would swim from backstroke flags to the wall, flip, plant feet, push off and twist... pushing off and twisting into streamline at the same time was the hardest thing for me. After that I just practiced from mid pool increasing my speed approaching the wall.)
Lainey
When I first went back to swimming after several decades away, I did open turns. The only problem with that was, it allowed me to grab the gutter... and STOP when I wanted... not necessarily when I NEEDED to stop. By switching to a flip turn I didn't have the 'option' of grabbing the side and stopping. I would agree with everyone, start working on 50's. Use an open turn if you must, but you might want to learn how to do a flip turn (it isn't terribly hard to learn. In fact, I taught myself in about an hour and an half of doing a complete flip, moving closer to wall with each successful flip. Once I felt comfortable flipping close to the wall I moved to the back stroke flags, swam slowly toward the wall and did complete flips until that felt comfortable; then I tried swimming toward the wall, flipping, planting my feet and pushing off on my back in streamline. After that became comfortable I would swim from backstroke flags to the wall, flip, plant feet, push off and twist... pushing off and twisting into streamline at the same time was the hardest thing for me. After that I just practiced from mid pool increasing my speed approaching the wall.)
Lainey
