I only started swimming freestyle less than a year ago and I'm still struggling with quite a few issues:
1. When breathing to the left, my head head-spine alignment vanishes and it appears as if I'm trying to change direction while lifting my head; I have no clue why I might be doing that.
2. I over-rotate when breathing.
3. Even with a slow hand entry, there's a lot of splashing going on.
In the answers to a few other posts I read that videos help, so I've put a few online:
Back/front view:
www.youtube.com/watch
Right side view:
www.youtube.com/watch
Left side view:
www.youtube.com/watch
In general, breathing in freestyle is problematic for me. When I swim relaxed enough to breathe with ease, my form totally degenerates and I'm wiggling through the water, almost flipping on my back when breathing. If I focus on a certain aspect of my stroke, for example, keeping my chin close to the shoulder or reaching out when rotating to air, or synchronizing my kick with my stroke, I find that I build up so much oxygen debt that I cannot swim more than two lengths in a 50 m pool without pausing.
I can only guess why--I probably forget to breathe out with sufficient force because I'm busy with other things and when I realize that I need more air than I'm currently getting, anxiety kicks in and everything falls apart.
I'll happily accept any comments on my videos or general advice that might help me not drown and maybe even improve my stroke. :)
Thank you!
Parents
Former Member
For only starting swimming one year ago, you look pretty good, which means you'll probably be able to improve even more with practice.
I don't usually recommend this, but just as a drill, look forward as you swim, focus on keeping a straight line. Do that until you can maintain this during regular swimming.
Also, try head up freestyle with dolphin kick, with fins... 4x50 on 2:00, again as a drill. Keep the head looking forward through-out the entire 50 meters.
That being said, there are other very good qualities to your stroke, so don't change everything to fix a minor flaw, you'll improve just by swimming more.
Core strength training could also be useful. Check this,
forums.usms.org/showthread.php
I'll happily accept any comments on my videos or general advice that might help me not drown and maybe even improve my stroke. :)
Thank you!
For only starting swimming one year ago, you look pretty good, which means you'll probably be able to improve even more with practice.
I don't usually recommend this, but just as a drill, look forward as you swim, focus on keeping a straight line. Do that until you can maintain this during regular swimming.
Also, try head up freestyle with dolphin kick, with fins... 4x50 on 2:00, again as a drill. Keep the head looking forward through-out the entire 50 meters.
That being said, there are other very good qualities to your stroke, so don't change everything to fix a minor flaw, you'll improve just by swimming more.
Core strength training could also be useful. Check this,
forums.usms.org/showthread.php
I'll happily accept any comments on my videos or general advice that might help me not drown and maybe even improve my stroke. :)
Thank you!
