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 would refer back to Ande's tip: train how you race, or something like that. If you train using the s-stroke, you are going to race with the s-stroke. The straight pull doesn't go to the belly, it goes all the way past the hips. The length of the stroke is the same, there is just no change in direction of the arm. If you don't try to force the EVF immediately, your shoulders should be okay as long as you don't push yourself too hard to fast.
I think it really depends on your goals. If your goal is to swim for fun and to get better with the occasional meet, I would suggest the s-stroke, as it is a bit easier on the shoulders. If you want to compete regularly and look to really get some great times, possibly break some records or post some top times, I would suggest the straight pull. Either way, you should make sure to stretch regularly.
I would refer back to Ande's tip: train how you race, or something like that. If you train using the s-stroke, you are going to race with the s-stroke. The straight pull doesn't go to the belly, it goes all the way past the hips. The length of the stroke is the same, there is just no change in direction of the arm. If you don't try to force the EVF immediately, your shoulders should be okay as long as you don't push yourself too hard to fast.
I think it really depends on your goals. If your goal is to swim for fun and to get better with the occasional meet, I would suggest the s-stroke, as it is a bit easier on the shoulders. If you want to compete regularly and look to really get some great times, possibly break some records or post some top times, I would suggest the straight pull. Either way, you should make sure to stretch regularly.
