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!
Former Member
It appears as if he is double jointed, in his elbows.
In the video's of pros (Phelps, Popov, Thorpe, me, etc) we watch and study with awe, and try to emulate, I wonder if there was an effort on their part to exaggerate difficult movements just because a camera was there.
In the video's of pros (Phelps, Popov, Thorpe, me, etc) we watch and study with awe, and try to emulate, I wonder if there was an effort on their part to exaggerate difficult movements just because a camera was there. I've noticed rather significant variations in Thorpe's freestyle technique from clip to clip in relation to EVF.
It doesn't seem to be the case for the others that you mention though. Hackett, also abundantly quoted for his EVF technique is also extremely consistent from clip to clip.
It looks as though there are certain swimmers under certain conditions that will avoid injury amd swim better without a locked elbow, so this is not for everyone and maybe even just a few. This excerpt is from This is also the conclusion to which I came over the years, not only be observing several proponents of this technique, but by listening to them describing me how they indeed lock the elbow. Because some really 'think' this way on purpose. When mastered, it may reveal a magical solution for those suffering from recurring shoulder injuries. It's a technically easily achievable technique that can seriously limit shoulder internal rotation without loosing too much efficiency.
I know that this technique is very popular among triathletes, especially those using a long sleeves wetsuit.
I also agree with you that it is not *the only* way Free Style should be swam. Nevertheless, it is indeed *one valid* way.
George, Knelson,
Perhpas you guys are right. It looks as though there are certain swimmers under certain conditions that will avoid injury amd swim better without a locked elbow, so this is not for everyone and maybe even just a few. This excerpt is from
Shoulder Injury in Competitive Swimmers
By Larry Weisenthal
Huntington Beach, CA
Associate Clinical Professor of Medicine
University of California
Irvine School of Medicine, Medical Director
2. Don’t swim with a locked elbow forward reach unless you are Ian Thorpe and have a great kick. Van den Hoogenband never completely straightens his left elbow, and he’s the fastest freestyle swimmer (100/200) in history. A female distance swimmer shouldn’t ever swim with a locked elbow stroke unless she is Astrid Strauss on steroids with an unbelievable kick racing Janet Evans in the ’88 Olympics. Otherwise, swim like Brooke Bennett or Diana Munz,. Shorter stroke; faster turnover; no Neer test, no internal rotation during recovery and entry. Early exit to avoid supraspinatus arty wring out. Locked elbow stroke only makes sense in the context of a great kick (e.g. US distance ace Erik Vendt). Otherwise, in a weak kicker (e.g. most female distance swimmers or swimmers such as Claudia Poll and Lindsay Benko), the more rapid turnover is needed to conserve momentum, which is rapidly lost with locked elbow orthopedic Neer impingement test and will be more likely to produce shoulder (rotator cuff) injury.
With the Michael Phelps video I noticed his cadence rhythm wasn't symmetrical - isn't that relatively inefficient - even for one of the fastest swimmers in the world?
With the Michael Phelps video I noticed his cadence rhythm wasn't symmetrical - isn't that relatively inefficient - even for one of the fastest swimmers in the world?
There a lots of great swimmers with very asymmetrical strokes. Check out Jason Lezak for another one. About all you can say is that it works for them, so it can't be too bad!
With the Michael Phelps video I noticed his cadence rhythm wasn't symmetrical - isn't that relatively inefficient - even for one of the fastest swimmers in the world? Yes it is. It has been shown to be. But this issue would probably be caused by the breathing. Both arms kind of develop their 'specialized' way of pulling.
Some available data suggests that 1) breathing side stoking arm's acceleration (in velocity) is lower than the non breathing stroking arm, 2) this drop of velocity seems to be tied with a drop in body forward velocity as well at the same moment, for elite swimmers, especially males that breathe every 2.
@Chris, out of curiosity,
1. if one has 2feet long arm, and that the hand reaches 3m/s velocity, what would be a fair estimate of upper arm velocity? You suggest that it wouldn't have sufficient backward velocity to not at least break even in term of drag/propulsion ratio? Then your position probably makes sense (so would Gary's). Cheers now I understand! But...
2. that upper arm which won't end up as deep in EVF situation, will end up exposing itself on the side. What I mean here is that it has to be somewhere, and the forearm won't hide itself 'behind' it. You suggest that since it's not as deep (on the side) there would be less drag?
Anyway, I can only respect this cause really, I got no solid clue.
This is a current world ranked female sprinter. The images are taken from velocity meter telemetry with synchronized video. The image is velocity telemetry from a dive out to about 20 meters. For purposes of presentation, the captured image is when the effects from the dive and breakout would be diminished. In very general terms, when the arm approaches a position somewhere under the shoulder, minimum velocity for the stroke cycle occurs. You might also notice a fairly consistent velocity signature of the stroke cycles prior to this point.
The next image is when max velocity occurs during the stroke cycle. Some of you might say it is the finish of the stroke cycle, or some of you might say the beginning of the next stroke cycle. In either case, in real time it is the next change in velocity from the previous image. The vertical line in this image is a little lighter so you might need to look closer at it's position.
The black/gray vertical line through the red velocity telemetry indicates the instantaneous velocity at that moment in the video.
Some available data suggests that 1) breathing side stoking arm's acceleration (in velocity) is lower than the non breathing stroking arm, 2) this drop of velocity seems to be tied with a drop in body forward velocity as well at the same moment, for elite swimmers, especially males that breathe every 2.
So my question is - if an effort was made to even out those strokes they could be potentially even faster? Or is this going to make them as fast as they'll ever be?
