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
I believe I can manage to get into a streamlined position but it requires a lot of concentration and I feel very tense when my sole focus is on a good streamline; I probably hold my breath when stretching in some places and pinching in others, which isn't really helping me with the rest of my swimming. Then I am really glad I could bring this issue to your attention, because it will make a difference in your ability to implements some recommendations other members have issued.
Streamline position should not require concentration or should not result into upper body muscle tensions. When you reach this point where streamlining becomes easy, your stroke will greatly benefit from it.
Best simple drill to improve your streamline position? Just good old backstroke kicking with both arms in streamline position. No need for more, although you may include a short stretching routine you can do at home once in a while.
I will not issue any other technical recommendation since other members have done this very well.
I am amazed by the serious you put into your swimming, and also very impressed by the progress you've made in the last few years.
Enjoy!
Charles
I believe I can manage to get into a streamlined position but it requires a lot of concentration and I feel very tense when my sole focus is on a good streamline; I probably hold my breath when stretching in some places and pinching in others, which isn't really helping me with the rest of my swimming. Then I am really glad I could bring this issue to your attention, because it will make a difference in your ability to implements some recommendations other members have issued.
Streamline position should not require concentration or should not result into upper body muscle tensions. When you reach this point where streamlining becomes easy, your stroke will greatly benefit from it.
Best simple drill to improve your streamline position? Just good old backstroke kicking with both arms in streamline position. No need for more, although you may include a short stretching routine you can do at home once in a while.
I will not issue any other technical recommendation since other members have done this very well.
I am amazed by the serious you put into your swimming, and also very impressed by the progress you've made in the last few years.
Enjoy!
Charles
