Plowing through the water

I have been wondering if my head position might have something to do with it. I was reading an article by glenn mills that I think might help me. He talked about finding the "right head position" for each individual. I have tried swimming with a neutral head but I don't seem to get any levearge on my stroke. Last night, I raised my head position about about 30 degrees or so. That allowed me to get a better catch and I stopped fishtaling. So, I think part of my problem has been swimming with my head toooooo deep. I think you're correct in that your head position needs to be adjusted so that your spine will have your hips in a higher position in the water. I've found that when I keep a visual "spot" about 6-8 ft on the bottom of the pool (10 ft deep), then the waterline is just above my browline, and this works for me. I don't feel like I'm plowing thru the water (except if I'm exhausted and drop my head), and I have the right positioning to anticipate my upcoming walls for breaths and strokes before flipturns. The other thing you might want to 'self-check' is your hip position itself. Are your hips rolled back or tucked-under. If your abs are tightened, then it's more likely that your hips will be tucked-under, and that will help them ride higher in the water because your spine won't be arched as much...it will be straighter and more inline with the plane of the water. You might try, as an experiment, tightening your abs (esp lower) to feel the difference when you're doing freestyle. If this is part of the problem, you'll know it, because you'll feel the difference immediately. Best of luck to you! Happy waters....

I have been wondering if my head position might have something to do with it. I was reading an article by glenn mills that I think might help me. He talked about finding the "right head position" for each individual. I have tried swimming with a neutral head but I don't seem to get any levearge on my stroke. Last night, I raised my head position about about 30 degrees or so. That allowed me to get a better catch and I stopped fishtaling. So, I think part of my problem has been swimming with my head toooooo deep. I think you're correct in that your head position needs to be adjusted so that your spine will have your hips in a higher position in the water. I've found that when I keep a visual "spot" about 6-8 ft on the bottom of the pool (10 ft deep), then the waterline is just above my browline, and this works for me. I don't feel like I'm plowing thru the water (except if I'm exhausted and drop my head), and I have the right positioning to anticipate my upcoming walls for breaths and strokes before flipturns. The other thing you might want to 'self-check' is your hip position itself. Are your hips rolled back or tucked-under. If your abs are tightened, then it's more likely that your hips will be tucked-under, and that will help them ride higher in the water because your spine won't be arched as much...it will be straighter and more inline with the plane of the water. You might try, as an experiment, tightening your abs (esp lower) to feel the difference when you're doing freestyle. If this is part of the problem, you'll know it, because you'll feel the difference immediately. Best of luck to you! Happy waters....