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?
To piggyback on what was mentioned above by both lifters and non-lifters, weight training will make you stronger (for swimming), look a lot better, and become injury resistant. However, speaking from experience here, if done improperly, or even properly, weight training can also really screw you up.
With this type of activity, take a year or so to get aquainted with it to see what your body likes and dislikes before you push hard.
To piggyback on what was mentioned above by both lifters and non-lifters, weight training will make you stronger (for swimming), look a lot better, and become injury resistant. However, speaking from experience here, if done improperly, or even properly, weight training can also really screw you up.
With this type of activity, take a year or so to get aquainted with it to see what your body likes and dislikes before you push hard.
