https://community.usms.org/swimming/f/open-water-training-and-technique/25498/ow-breathingbeen trying to improve my swim times by swimming straighter and with less sighting of buoys. for years breathed every stroke on one side in races but trained in pool with a little alternate breathing. i&#39;m now trying 6 full strokes one side, no breatheen-USTelligent Community 12https://community.usms.org/thread/271100?ContentTypeID=1Mon, 25 Feb 2013 02:05:17 GMT3187ac58-ba85-4314-b79a-c45cd885e09a:14e2abd9-d928-438d-bfbf-3ac3eb79a478cantwait4bikethanks Rob!!! this gives me a good target to shoot for 50 left (in my case), and 30 right. have the same issue with swimming straighter on one side vs other<div style="clear:both;"></div>https://community.usms.org/thread/271087?ContentTypeID=1Tue, 19 Feb 2013 07:15:04 GMT3187ac58-ba85-4314-b79a-c45cd885e09a:db9a99b5-af28-4863-be52-a70e0b9ebccbrxleakemAnother perspective: <a href="http://loneswimmer.com/2013/02/19/howto-open-water-breathing-patterns/">loneswimmer.com/.../</a><div style="clear:both;"></div>https://community.usms.org/thread/271093?ContentTypeID=1Tue, 19 Feb 2013 02:27:12 GMT3187ac58-ba85-4314-b79a-c45cd885e09a:ff97952f-5c37-47ec-a35a-916f56ef7fcfRob Copeland<a href="http://www.marathonswimmers.org/forum/discussion/368/do-marathon-swimmers-breathe-every-stroke#Item_20">www.marathonswimmers.org/.../do-marathon-swimmers-breathe-every-stroke</a> The short answer is “it depends”. Its good to be able to breathe on both/either side so you can react to whatever conditions you are presented with.Ditto… I’m generally a right side breather, but depending on conditions (chop, sun, landmarks, other swimmers, etc.) I will bilateral or left side breath. I find that when I right side breath I swim straighter and I’ll go 50-100 strokes without sighting. If I bilateral or left side breath, I sight every 30-40 strokes.<div style="clear:both;"></div>https://community.usms.org/thread/271055?ContentTypeID=1Thu, 07 Feb 2013 14:12:25 GMT3187ac58-ba85-4314-b79a-c45cd885e09a:efe2652e-77ed-466d-88ce-131f134a4dc7Former Member<a href="http://www.marathonswimmers.org/forum/discussion/368/do-marathon-swimmers-breathe-every-stroke#Item_20">www.marathonswimmers.org/.../do-marathon-swimmers-breathe-every-stroke</a> The short answer is &#8220;it depends&#8221;. Its good to be able to breathe on both/either side so you can react to whatever conditions you are presented with.<div style="clear:both;"></div>