Video technique review

Relearning stroke from scratch with slow swimming and camera. I see some improvement. 2009_11090018.flv video by C6C6CH3vo - Photobucket

Wow Steve, that looks a ton better. I just changed my stroke 3 weeks ago, and swimming daily it is just now starting to feel normal again. I don't know if you are doing this because of your shoulder, but you are entering thumb down. It is usually easier on the shoulder to enter fingertips first. Hold your arm out, then rotate your thumb from up to down, and feel the rotation in the ball of the shoulder. For me, thumb down creates a little pressure in the joint, where thumb neutral or thumb up does not create any pressure.

Relearning stroke from scratch with slow swimming and camera. I see some improvement. Dear Steve, may I ask you how it feels swimming like this?

Steve, what have you tried to change in your stroke and how does it feel to swim like this?Honestly, the only real things changed are less catch-up movements, and keeping my recovery arm tighter. It feels more natural, does not bother my shoulders, and they're less fatigued. The recent footage to me shows there's still work to do though.

Steve, what have you tried to change in your stroke and how does it feel to swim like this?

Try experimenting with Thorpe's catch position and your catch position and see for yourself which is more powerful. -mjmYes, this is one of the things I've been trying to change. It's not as easy easy as it sounds or thorpe makes it look, especially after swimming incorrectly for 1.5 years. But on the same thorpe reel I noticed Gustavo's technique and his left arm. ">www.youtube.com/.../XHjJUJvjzDg&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&feature=player_embedded&fs=1">'s not clean like thorpe, that boy makes some serious power with his stroke

Steve: See this front-view video of Ian Thorpe: YouTube- Thorpe Front View Underwater Notice that his arm in the catch position is always bent at the elbow--never fully extended and that his hands are always under his body. Compare that to your catch position (esp. right side) fully extended and hand outside your body line. Try experimenting with Thorpe's catch position and your catch position and see for yourself which is more powerful. -mjm

Stroke started feeling more natural and relaxed, unfortunately it was after recording was done and camera was put away. But everything seems to fit together much better when I wasn't thinking about my movements and just swimming not worrying about the camera. Felt a smooth, but powerful sensation throughout with my hands. Wish I had footage at that moment though, I think I was experiencing what you described as "progressive and unloaded" with smooth acceleration. About the left hand going too far inside, I think it might be related to two things. First, my arm is not extended all the way. This was a shoulder-related precautionary habit I developed when I first started swimming last year. Seems fine when fully extended but old habits are hard to break. Second, it looks like I fishtail the feet right when this (left) hand enters. Not sure it's cause-effect relationship but it seems to be happening and this is not streamlined. 2009_11110002i.flv video by C6C6CH3vo - Photobucket It is tough trying to relearn how to swim.

Yes, I see it now. The clip from several day's ago shows active catching compared to today's clip where my hand just sit's there doing nothing as I slow down. Something just didn't feel right today in front of the camera, and I bet after filming the catch was more active like before because it felt better. Relapses will happen, thanks for pointing this out! My goal is to get a feel for the hand sinking upon entry with both arms, shoulder flexing, high elbows all at once naturally. Using the high elbow recovery arm to assist and transfer energy to the catching hand's movement downward. This is my goal but finding it will take some practice

I don't like this last clip as much as the previous one. Basically, when I look at your hands, I am happy if you seem to be preparing the catch immediately, and unhappy when I feel that there's a dead spot during which your hand does nothing but wait (to be late). Would this last clip be filmed prior the previous one? Here. I took an arbitrary clip of Ian Thorpe performing a 200 (or a 400) I am not sure. Look closely at the underwater angles. Most unaware eyes would mistakenly think that there's a dead spot preceding the catch, but there's none. 1- The hand/arm enters 2- The arm slowly sink along with body rotation 3- The hand immediately starts preparing the catch by pointing fingers down. This is systematic. 4- As soon as the hand finishes her positioning game (pointing fingers down) the arm continues sinking to catch. No dead spot. While Thope's fingers point down upon hand entry, yours are pointing slightly up (left hand). I'd venture in assuming that if you were simply pointing fingers down upon left hand entry to prepare for the catch, you'll kill several birds with one stone. Like I said previously, I am not overly concerned with the fact that your hand crosses the mid line (not at all in fact). I am concerned by the fact that it doesn't do its job. If it was pointing forward (thus not crossing any line), it'd still create a dead spot followed by some emergency disorganized late catch, and I would still be unhappy.