I am so disgusted--I've done the TI drills, had lessons, had swim team college kids give me tips, yet I still just can't seem to get the freestyle arm action right. Do you exactly move your arm in the recovery phase the same as you move it in the fingertip drag drills? Or do you do a wind up motion of your shoulder to bring the arm out of the water? No matter what I try, I am so pathetically slow--more often than not, I am feeling like it is all wrong. I am a good breakstroker and decent flyer, and great backstroker, but geez, I need to be able to do the free - I swim about 12 miles a week. Any tips are sooooo appreciated.:bow:
Parents
Former Member
I am very guilty of sort of dying at the pull phase - having been a very bad elbow dropper for my whole life--so this is something I really have to work on,--as well as bilateral breathing--as it seems that when I pull well on one side, the other sides drops.
In my opinion, bilateral breathing is not necessary. My left arm drops unless I work on it, but it's getting better now that I'm aware of it--no bilateral breathing necessary.
As for the pull phase, what helped me was doing mid-distance pull w/buoy, working on really long, smooth strokes, using a powerful pull.
This strengthened my chest muscles, as well as my tris.
I started back in May after a 23 year hiatus, but I feel that the pulling sets have really helped my stroke. I am much more cognizant of my physical state in the water than I was as a youth swimmer.
This is what worked for me, anyway.
I am very guilty of sort of dying at the pull phase - having been a very bad elbow dropper for my whole life--so this is something I really have to work on,--as well as bilateral breathing--as it seems that when I pull well on one side, the other sides drops.
In my opinion, bilateral breathing is not necessary. My left arm drops unless I work on it, but it's getting better now that I'm aware of it--no bilateral breathing necessary.
As for the pull phase, what helped me was doing mid-distance pull w/buoy, working on really long, smooth strokes, using a powerful pull.
This strengthened my chest muscles, as well as my tris.
I started back in May after a 23 year hiatus, but I feel that the pulling sets have really helped my stroke. I am much more cognizant of my physical state in the water than I was as a youth swimmer.
This is what worked for me, anyway.
