Though my form still needs a lot of work, I am considering starting strength training in the near future, since I have read about how it can help swimming speed, form, etc.
However, I am still struggling with the idea of why strength training is needed. Lets assume that lifting a certain weight in a certain way improves a core muscle, which will help steady my posture (?).
Now assuming I don't weight lift, but instead try to hold the proper posture (high elbow, etc.) for a long period of time, and gradually increase the time I do that over weeks and months, won't those muscle(s) automatically improve?
It seems to me that intuitively the proper muscles would gradually get stronger in order to adjust to the frequent usage - that way the exact muscles I need would get stronger, instead of having to train a large array of muscles that have a relation to swimming.
What am I missing?
Parents
Former Member
Though my form still needs a lot of work, I am considering starting strength training in the near future
It is not necessary, but it can be beneficial. It is necessary for you to have good form to swim fast.
Training faster to get faster definitely works, you are not missing anything. Strength training is additional, not a replacement for swimming.
What is going to make you the fastest fastest is technique improvements. Strength training is not a short cut to fast times.
Though my form still needs a lot of work, I am considering starting strength training in the near future
It is not necessary, but it can be beneficial. It is necessary for you to have good form to swim fast.
Training faster to get faster definitely works, you are not missing anything. Strength training is additional, not a replacement for swimming.
What is going to make you the fastest fastest is technique improvements. Strength training is not a short cut to fast times.
