I saw someone today breathing every 4 strokes, so it took her 4 or 5 breathings to finish the length. Thought it interesting to know the breathing styles of the people here, and maybe the advantages of each.
Edit: Replace "breath" by "breathe" in the title.
I like to bilateral breathe because I feel more balanced.
Ditto. What I find works best is either a 2-2-3 or a 2-2-2-3 pattern so that I can enough air in on the 2's, but still get the balance (& the look across the pool) of the bilateral part.
Of course, when I get tired like on the last 150 of my 400 this weekend, I breathe whenever I feel like it and sometimes will do a 1-1 pattern when particularly out-of-breath.
I breathe bilaterally (probably every 3 much of the time). But, if I'm doing something where I need more air I just breathe when I need it. Either side.
I like it that I was trained to breathe every 3 as an age-grouper. I think it makes you comfortable with any breathing pattern.
200m and over every 3 strokes, in practice, (I usually breath more racing)
At the end of 100/200/400 IM every 2 strokes
100 every 4 or 6 strokes
50 3 or 4 times
In practice I always try to be good and breath every 3 or 5 to alternate and if I do switch to one side only every 4. But once we get into a hard set and for any race longer than a 50 I end up breathing every 2 to the left. I just need air.
I'm happy Phelps breaths every 2 also, coaches don't seem to get on my case as much now as they did 15 years ago.
I like to bilateral breathe because I feel more balanced. If I breathe more often or less frequently, I get all messed up. If racing, it depends on the length of the swim.
I am trying hard to get used to bilateral. Even though I'm terrible at it--sometimes feeling as if going to drown--it's still obvious that bilateral breathing instantly improves my balance and decreases the stroke-per-length by 1 or 2. But it is really not easy to change the habit! If someone has successful stories and tips that would be great to hear :D
I'm wondering which of the following 3 ways to change one-sided breathing habit to bilateral works better:
(a) Will only do bilateral breathing, no matter how hard. This will force you to get used to it.
(b) If you are used to right-side breathing, change completely to only left-side breathing (and vice versa), until you are used to it, then bilateral should be no problem.
(c) Gradually adding bilateral breathing in your practices.
Anyone tried any of these?
I'm a bilateral breather, but it took me quite some time to get that down with regard to timing and technique. With regard to my swimmers, I have a plethora of breathers (every 2, every 3, every 4, every 5) during normal practice sets. I promote proper technique so if they are doing the technique properly then I am fine with them however they choose to breath (as long as it's not every stroke).
I alternate between 2 and 4 - on the right side... I am trying to focus on doing 4 only. However, if I need a quick breath before a turn and the timing is off, I will breathe to the left and it feels normal - but I can't stand breathing every 3, 5, etc - it feels really uncomfortable.
I am a 4-4-2-4-4-2 breather. Pure habit.
Upon some advice given here, I have been putting in more sprinting sets, breating every 2. I do notice less oxygen deprivation feeling in my legs (dead legs), but I do have to concentrate. I detest sprinting, so the change in breathing habits has at least made them more enjoyable.
