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.
I think it was Typhoons Coach who directed me to a link with great freestyle drills, including the gallop drill.
His gallop drill is pull three times with right arm while kicking normally, then pull three times with left arm while kicking normally, if I remember correctly. Sort of like one-arm freestyle only you one-arm it for three pulls then switch arms.
If Senor Typhoons Coach sees this, perhaps he can post the link where he lists some great drills, including one where you touch your hip, shoulder, and temple. I basically missed every body part just named. But when I watched a teammate do this drill, her freestyle looked very very smooth.
And if I am mixing up Mr. Typhoons with Mr. Ande, please forgive.
I also find that using hand-size square paddles without any straps helps me feel where I can get better force underneath my shoulders, en route to my hips. Also helps with getting my elbows up. I just hold the paddles with my pinky/thumb rather than have then strapped to me because my arms fall off my shoulders easily (very loose ligaments!). I make sure the paddles are low enough so that my wrist cannot bend.
This way I just do a 50 or so to get a sense of how amazing it would be to swim correctly, then try it on my own.
I have heard playing water polo gives you great endurance. Perhaps you could use an image of a horse underneath you that is galloping you through the water and you pull hard in the water to stay on the horse....
I think it was Typhoons Coach who directed me to a link with great freestyle drills, including the gallop drill.
His gallop drill is pull three times with right arm while kicking normally, then pull three times with left arm while kicking normally, if I remember correctly. Sort of like one-arm freestyle only you one-arm it for three pulls then switch arms.
If Senor Typhoons Coach sees this, perhaps he can post the link where he lists some great drills, including one where you touch your hip, shoulder, and temple. I basically missed every body part just named. But when I watched a teammate do this drill, her freestyle looked very very smooth.
And if I am mixing up Mr. Typhoons with Mr. Ande, please forgive.
I also find that using hand-size square paddles without any straps helps me feel where I can get better force underneath my shoulders, en route to my hips. Also helps with getting my elbows up. I just hold the paddles with my pinky/thumb rather than have then strapped to me because my arms fall off my shoulders easily (very loose ligaments!). I make sure the paddles are low enough so that my wrist cannot bend.
This way I just do a 50 or so to get a sense of how amazing it would be to swim correctly, then try it on my own.
I have heard playing water polo gives you great endurance. Perhaps you could use an image of a horse underneath you that is galloping you through the water and you pull hard in the water to stay on the horse....
