I learned to swim as an adult a couple of years ago. When I started the front crawl, I would focus on being "long" in the water - i.e., really reaching with the forward hand on each stroke, and not pulling until the trailing hand entered the water (the TI front quadrant swimming concept).
But over time, my shoulders would bother me. And I recently learned that swimming with high elbows (envisioning your arm going over a barrel) is better for your shoulders. I was definitely dropping my elbows before.
The problem I'm having is that when I swim with high elbows, I feel like I'm not as "long" in the water, that I get less glide, and that generally, I have to work a lot harder (though my shoulders feel better). One obvious thing I've noticed is that with a high elbow stroke, I can't seem to keep my leading arm out in front until my trailing arm catches up.
Any thoughts? Thanks.
Edit: I should add that I'm a recreational swimmer, so technique that is easier on the shoulder is preferred to a technique that may be better for competitive swimmers but is more stressful to the shoulder joint.
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Former Member
However and I do want to insist. Combination of extra-long wait time and glide in the front (so typical to rec swimmers) and attempt to perform EVF can be quite damaging on the rotator's cuff (like you probably know).
Can you elaborate please? Are you saying I shouldn't reach too far forward before letting the forearm drop into the catch? You know without actually seeing you, it's becoming difficult to issue detailed recommendation.
But your question is actually crucial.
Say your right arm has 1 full second to complete a stroke (pull). Now please, let us split the full pulling path in 3 equal parts. This is then .33 sec per portion. The hand should accelerate from entry to exit with the biggest portion of power being applied by second third of the path.
Very early while the hand is up there, upon the entry, to keep elbow high you need to perform an internal rotation of the shoulder (even if you're lying on your side). That is how you get to bend forearm to pull high elbow.
Say you wait and wait in the front, say you end up spending .66sec in the front, that leaves you with only .33 to create this acceleration. Therefore, power has to be applied earlier in the pulling or else stroke rate will suffer. Combination of the stroke characteristic with wanting to keep high elbow may irritate the weakest links inside the shoulders and or elbows. Or put the other way around, having a pain in the shoulder may be related to this.
Often, those who *catch up* can't (afford) swimming high elbow. And the reason for this is that because they catch up. It's a vicious circle that needs to be broken if any attempt is to be made to pull high elbow.
Now at first, upon arm entry, you can wait a little that's not bad that gets ride of some bubbles if any and you gradually dig for deeper water to take a catch. You don't have to hurry up to do this. And this is why when you see these swimmers (Thorpe or most of his competitors), it looks as if they glide up front but it's just because the hand is slowly aiming for deeper water. Take a look at underwater footage and look at their fingers. Because this is how they think this movement. Fingers first then the hand slowly (at first) aim for deeper water then after this, things might unfold at a rapid pace. You take a catch you're already in a strong position hand accelerate more and more as soon as strong back are involved, full power is being applied ending up explosive then it's the exit, and a slow and progressive catch again.
It is the level of finesse you can express through this execution that allows you to loose as little water possible.
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Former Member
However and I do want to insist. Combination of extra-long wait time and glide in the front (so typical to rec swimmers) and attempt to perform EVF can be quite damaging on the rotator's cuff (like you probably know).
Can you elaborate please? Are you saying I shouldn't reach too far forward before letting the forearm drop into the catch? You know without actually seeing you, it's becoming difficult to issue detailed recommendation.
But your question is actually crucial.
Say your right arm has 1 full second to complete a stroke (pull). Now please, let us split the full pulling path in 3 equal parts. This is then .33 sec per portion. The hand should accelerate from entry to exit with the biggest portion of power being applied by second third of the path.
Very early while the hand is up there, upon the entry, to keep elbow high you need to perform an internal rotation of the shoulder (even if you're lying on your side). That is how you get to bend forearm to pull high elbow.
Say you wait and wait in the front, say you end up spending .66sec in the front, that leaves you with only .33 to create this acceleration. Therefore, power has to be applied earlier in the pulling or else stroke rate will suffer. Combination of the stroke characteristic with wanting to keep high elbow may irritate the weakest links inside the shoulders and or elbows. Or put the other way around, having a pain in the shoulder may be related to this.
Often, those who *catch up* can't (afford) swimming high elbow. And the reason for this is that because they catch up. It's a vicious circle that needs to be broken if any attempt is to be made to pull high elbow.
Now at first, upon arm entry, you can wait a little that's not bad that gets ride of some bubbles if any and you gradually dig for deeper water to take a catch. You don't have to hurry up to do this. And this is why when you see these swimmers (Thorpe or most of his competitors), it looks as if they glide up front but it's just because the hand is slowly aiming for deeper water. Take a look at underwater footage and look at their fingers. Because this is how they think this movement. Fingers first then the hand slowly (at first) aim for deeper water then after this, things might unfold at a rapid pace. You take a catch you're already in a strong position hand accelerate more and more as soon as strong back are involved, full power is being applied ending up explosive then it's the exit, and a slow and progressive catch again.
It is the level of finesse you can express through this execution that allows you to loose as little water possible.
