Awhile back I had tried to record myself swimming freestlye and ask around the net for commentary, but it was with a low-quality camera and only above-water footage. Not getting too much feedback at that time, I decided to buy a underwater HD camera and try to use that as a reference and improve my freestyle technique. Over about 40 days I have recorded ~16 sessions, and tried to gradually improve things. Here is what I have improved:
- No longer crossing over arms in middle (at least most of the time)
- Entry occurs when arms are more stretched forward, before my elbow was bent ~90 degrees for some entries
- Left pull is a bit more consistent, but still not a clean S curve like right arm (yes I'm right-handed)
- kick is a bit tighter and more controlled (though this probably still needs to be made even smaller, with less knee kick)
- neck angle when breathing is less extreme, before I was turning upwards much more than necessary
I still look straight down at the bottom when swimming much of the time, partially because if I look forward with a 45-degree angle I can't really see much anyway because my goggles get in the way, although I know doing this will make my breathing more natural, and possibly improve my posture overall.
I have been doing alot of catch-up with a pull bouy and that seems to have helped me control my upper body more. Also been doing alot of stretches to enable my foot to stretch to a greater degree, and doing a few laps with zoomers to help improve my overall kick form.
Anyway, the result of my recent training can be seen in the following video, where I edited together a few sessions together, and you can see my technique from a few different angles, both above and underwater.
YouTube- Jeff's Freestyle Technique 7/5/2010
I was concerned about doing too much endurance training with 'bad' form,but I think I am nearly ready to start doing less form work and a little more endurance training. However before that I really would like to get some critique from some masters swimming forum members.
If I were to point out my #1 problem at present, it is a lack of 'balance' in the water, though I am not sure exactly what that means or how to work on it. When I see videos of pro swimmers like Michael Phelps I am amazed by how their arms seem 'anchored' in front, whereas I have to struggle to even keep them straight. It takes a conscious effort to not cross over the middle, and even then I can't seem to keep my arms 'anchored' in front.
I do most of my training in a housing-development pool with no swimming friends, so any commentary would be very helpful.
Thanks very much!
If your arm is locked out straight you are not in a good position for the catch.
I think just prior to the hand dropping, you always see a locked out elbow.....no? I think I even saw this in underwater video of the 50M final. In sprinting it only lasts a fraction of a second.
Perhaps I overexaggerated to get my point across by saying this entirely happens above the surface because the swimmer was no where close to doing this.
If there is a slight bent elbow on hand entry, the elbow needs to be high enough so that the forearm is entering inline (parallel) with the body's axis. When there is a low arm recovery, a bent elbow on hand entry is a big no no because that means the forearm is presenting itself to increased drag (and you are probably on your way to crossing over the centerline). In the case of a very low arm recovery, I've seen swimmers lock their arm straight just above the water and the whole arm and hand goes in at the same time. I prefer a high elbow recovery, which alows the hand to enter first.
If your arm is locked out straight you are not in a good position for the catch.
I think just prior to the hand dropping, you always see a locked out elbow.....no? I think I even saw this in underwater video of the 50M final. In sprinting it only lasts a fraction of a second.
Perhaps I overexaggerated to get my point across by saying this entirely happens above the surface because the swimmer was no where close to doing this.
If there is a slight bent elbow on hand entry, the elbow needs to be high enough so that the forearm is entering inline (parallel) with the body's axis. When there is a low arm recovery, a bent elbow on hand entry is a big no no because that means the forearm is presenting itself to increased drag (and you are probably on your way to crossing over the centerline). In the case of a very low arm recovery, I've seen swimmers lock their arm straight just above the water and the whole arm and hand goes in at the same time. I prefer a high elbow recovery, which alows the hand to enter first.
