Does anyone have any hints, tips, tricks, or drills to help swimmers engage their core while swimming freestyle (or any stroke for that matter)? :afraid:
Thanks!!
As far as core goes - my understanding was always "strengthen the core outside of the water so its effects become apparent in the water". Basically - as you strengthen your core doing your dryland work - the "passive work" of the core in the water that helps maintain balance, position, rotation, etc... will become so much easier that your efforts can then be focused more in swimming faster and less about worrying about things like engaging your core while swimming.
Of course - this is just my very inexperienced understanding.
I definitly feel more rotation and lat engagement when I sprint and extend.
I tend to like distance more and during long workouts I think I lose most of my extension. Maybe that's what I need to focus on.
I definitly feel more rotation and lat engagement when I sprint and extend.
I tend to like distance more and during long workouts I think I lose most of my extension. Maybe that's what I need to focus on.
Interesting -- I think it's the opposite for me. I could especially feel my lats during warm-up yesterday (since it was on my mind). Long strokes w/rotation are great for distance, IMO, and I find it easier to focus on them when I'm swimming a bit slower.
Semi-relatedly, we did some pull-buoy work in practice. Suddenly all the emphasis was on my triceps, which fits with what others have said on this board about pull buoys inhibiting rotation. I threw the pull buoy on the side of the pool and kept going. Hate the things.
I pitched my bouy the other day after I read your post. I used my big STAR paddles; I can feel lat engagement and body roll when I use them. I feel it a short bit after I take them off but then it goes away.
