Freestyle body rotation/getting power from the hips
Former Member
First of all, I don't know if these concepts are directly related. But I finally got some coaching tips and realize that I am plowing through the water like I am swimming like I am stroking with my belly on a surfboard. I have learned to get the high elbow recovery and now I feel the rotation of my body, or at least the potential for it to rotate.
So my question is, do I force my body to rotate more, or is this a natural consequence of doing other things correctly? I can especially feel it on my left/non-breathing side where I can force myself to over rotate beyond which I am doing.
The power from the hips part, I was told I need to do that, but I have no idea how to execute it.
Parents
Former Member
Maybe an expert can chime in here but aren't there two major kinds of freestyle swimming - shoulder driven vs. hip driven - assuming you are rotating at all? (I'm a plower, so I'm not a free expert by any means - in fact, I have yet to figure out this stroke).
So when I don't kick (2 beat or drag feet), my stroke is shoulder driven. When I kick hard (6 beat), it's more hip driven.
But back to the poster's initial question, doesn't one need to learn to balance and *ride your rails* (swim on your side) in order to rotate in free? I personally like 6 kick switch or side glide drills for learning to swim more to one's side.
Then, in order to switch efficiently from side to side, one must determine if they are a stronger puller (shoulder driven) or a stronger kicker (hip driven) and use it to their advantage. So that means that you will either use your shoulders or your kick to rotate from side to side.
Anyway, this can get confusing. . . sorry to not be much help here. I'm sure others will join in the discussion.
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Former Member
Maybe an expert can chime in here but aren't there two major kinds of freestyle swimming - shoulder driven vs. hip driven - assuming you are rotating at all? (I'm a plower, so I'm not a free expert by any means - in fact, I have yet to figure out this stroke).
So when I don't kick (2 beat or drag feet), my stroke is shoulder driven. When I kick hard (6 beat), it's more hip driven.
But back to the poster's initial question, doesn't one need to learn to balance and *ride your rails* (swim on your side) in order to rotate in free? I personally like 6 kick switch or side glide drills for learning to swim more to one's side.
Then, in order to switch efficiently from side to side, one must determine if they are a stronger puller (shoulder driven) or a stronger kicker (hip driven) and use it to their advantage. So that means that you will either use your shoulders or your kick to rotate from side to side.
Anyway, this can get confusing. . . sorry to not be much help here. I'm sure others will join in the discussion.
