I did cursory search on this; saw some discussions of how important it is to play the "golf" game to gain speed while maintaining length with stroke, BUT, how do you actually INCREASE the distance per stroke? I know there are drills, but when I actually swim I cannot seem to get a stronger pull or better alignment in the water to go faster with less effort.
Pull fast under the water? High early vertical forearm? Better rotation? None of these seem to get me fewer strokes. What do you think actually GETS you more distance?
And if there is a thread that addresses the getting of more distance, please forgive, and redirect me.
Parents
Former Member
I don't know of any instant fixes for stroke length, but what has been working for me over a longish period of time (a few years) is just consistency.
Doing drills has been a big part of my routine... helping me improve rotation & timing on my stroke (kick on side + its variations, i also like pull with no bouey) and more recently i've been trying to bet a bit more effective on the front end of my stroke (high elbow drills, head up swimming).
I also frequently do really a set of relatively slow 25's really working on form.. and slowly building speed while keeping stroke count.
In practice I count strokes frequently through a set... not every length, but if i feel really fresh or fast i count to see what thats like.. or if i'm absolutely dying I also like to count that to see what that range is as well.
I've prob took my strokes per 25 down by 3-4 strokes normal (practice speed).. or 5-6 if i am doing a DPS set. In timed 100's i think its prob only like 7 strokes or so for the whole 100... still hoping to be more efficient at race pace.
I don't know of any instant fixes for stroke length, but what has been working for me over a longish period of time (a few years) is just consistency.
Doing drills has been a big part of my routine... helping me improve rotation & timing on my stroke (kick on side + its variations, i also like pull with no bouey) and more recently i've been trying to bet a bit more effective on the front end of my stroke (high elbow drills, head up swimming).
I also frequently do really a set of relatively slow 25's really working on form.. and slowly building speed while keeping stroke count.
In practice I count strokes frequently through a set... not every length, but if i feel really fresh or fast i count to see what thats like.. or if i'm absolutely dying I also like to count that to see what that range is as well.
I've prob took my strokes per 25 down by 3-4 strokes normal (practice speed).. or 5-6 if i am doing a DPS set. In timed 100's i think its prob only like 7 strokes or so for the whole 100... still hoping to be more efficient at race pace.
