One of my teammates gets private lessons from another coach, and he said they have been working on a "deep catch" for his freestyle. At a recent meet, I heard another guy talking about the same thing. What exactly does this mean? I want to know if I already do it or if it is something to work on. Thanks!
A deep catch seems to be what the most recent set of coaching instructions has encouraged me to do.
It solved the problem of 5 different angles my arm was composing itself into at any one time, does not cause pain, and is faster and more powerful. (Also, it "feels" like swimming.)
Hand slices into water at usual angle to begin stroke, then forearm drops/presses down to roughly a 45-degree angle (in my case) from surface with elbow held stationary, at which point (45 degree forearm) the catch proper is initiated. So it is like a long press approach to the catch. And I'm sure this particular technique will change over time. I do not have much shoulder girdle flexibility and wing span is less than body height, altho' those factors may be unrelated to trying to use a deep catch at this point in my swimming efforts. YMMV.
:)
A deep catch seems to be what the most recent set of coaching instructions has encouraged me to do.
It solved the problem of 5 different angles my arm was composing itself into at any one time, does not cause pain, and is faster and more powerful. (Also, it "feels" like swimming.)
Hand slices into water at usual angle to begin stroke, then forearm drops/presses down to roughly a 45-degree angle (in my case) from surface with elbow held stationary, at which point (45 degree forearm) the catch proper is initiated. So it is like a long press approach to the catch. And I'm sure this particular technique will change over time. I do not have much shoulder girdle flexibility and wing span is less than body height, altho' those factors may be unrelated to trying to use a deep catch at this point in my swimming efforts. YMMV.
:)
