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
I don't know. I find it still pretty difficult to get a good EVF when swimming normally, however, when doing a catch-up drill (isn't that sort of the definition of a "long glide"?) I find it trivial to drop the hand and raise the elbow.
Skip I have to agree here. That's this timing thing I was referring to earlier. So you may be right.
However, you have to understand my position. The most common flaw I need to fight against day after day, is dead spot in the front. Very very often, people wait then apply hard pressure in a sudden way.
Then the elbow automatically drops due to lack of shoulder strength to support this pressure whilst being in a weak position (arm extended in the front). Then they totally miss the catch so not able to engage the lats. That brings their arm near exit... slip slip all slip. Day in day out.
I think that you're right. Hackett probably spends most of his time swimming in a way that is safe for his shoulders. That said, he can probably stand a much higher level of pressure compared to most of us. Again I agree that by delaying the catch a little bit, thus allowing the body rotation to bring the body in a more flat position (not talking about staying flat here, it's a transition flat position) it's far easier to bend the elbow.
Most mortals may develop undesirable side effects in attempting to swim like this though.
I don't know. I find it still pretty difficult to get a good EVF when swimming normally, however, when doing a catch-up drill (isn't that sort of the definition of a "long glide"?) I find it trivial to drop the hand and raise the elbow.
Skip I have to agree here. That's this timing thing I was referring to earlier. So you may be right.
However, you have to understand my position. The most common flaw I need to fight against day after day, is dead spot in the front. Very very often, people wait then apply hard pressure in a sudden way.
Then the elbow automatically drops due to lack of shoulder strength to support this pressure whilst being in a weak position (arm extended in the front). Then they totally miss the catch so not able to engage the lats. That brings their arm near exit... slip slip all slip. Day in day out.
I think that you're right. Hackett probably spends most of his time swimming in a way that is safe for his shoulders. That said, he can probably stand a much higher level of pressure compared to most of us. Again I agree that by delaying the catch a little bit, thus allowing the body rotation to bring the body in a more flat position (not talking about staying flat here, it's a transition flat position) it's far easier to bend the elbow.
Most mortals may develop undesirable side effects in attempting to swim like this though.
