Current Swimmer indicates the proper head position is 'low' in the water, more or less the oncoming water seeing the top of your head.
On the other hand, many tell me to have the water line break the forehead, thus a higher head position than shown as 'right' in Swimmer (page 25).
Advice to look to the bottom of the pool rather than forward plays into this matter.
Any consensus here?
Parents
Former Member
I think...
looking straight ahead, having the water line break on the forehead, is not good at all, for anybody.
looking straight down (nose pointed at the bottom) works for some, maybe even most.
looking at a 45, more or less, works for others, namely me. For a while last winter, I swam looking straight down and my coach caught it one evening and specifically told me to correct it because I was sinking the front end of my body. This YouTube - Michael Phelps freestyle multi angle camera has been pulled out a million times on this forum, but looking at it again on the side view, Phelps clearly does a 45 head position.
I think...
looking straight ahead, having the water line break on the forehead, is not good at all, for anybody.
looking straight down (nose pointed at the bottom) works for some, maybe even most.
looking at a 45, more or less, works for others, namely me. For a while last winter, I swam looking straight down and my coach caught it one evening and specifically told me to correct it because I was sinking the front end of my body. This YouTube - Michael Phelps freestyle multi angle camera has been pulled out a million times on this forum, but looking at it again on the side view, Phelps clearly does a 45 head position.
