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!
Just to throw in my two cents especially with regards to head position:
25 years ago, when I swam age group, we were encouraged to keep the waterline at our brow level which is way higher than coaches who say "keep your head lower" now view it. So when they now say keep your head low, the waterline should be somewhere near the hairline I think.. While this varies for many people, the idea is not to have the waterline at the top of your head. I think your latest video has the waterline at the top of your head still. By holding your head just a little higher, it will make it easier to breathe with a minimum of turning.
Your fish tail has decreased immensely from video to video, but when your head gets too low, it requires that you lift and turn your head while breathing. You shouldn't have to lift to breathe. Soon as you do, your hips will drop and your alignment begins messing up.
One visualization/sensation drill that has improved the efficiency of my stroke lately is to pretend that I am a telephone pole or that my body is a surfboard and my arms are paddles. My stroke motion mimics paddling a surfboard with my body roll feeling similar to paddling a surfboard or a telephone pole. That ensures I keep a straight line from my head all the way to my feet. Don't know if that would work for you or not.
Best of luck. For one year swimming you are showing tremendous results!
Just to throw in my two cents especially with regards to head position:
25 years ago, when I swam age group, we were encouraged to keep the waterline at our brow level which is way higher than coaches who say "keep your head lower" now view it. So when they now say keep your head low, the waterline should be somewhere near the hairline I think.. While this varies for many people, the idea is not to have the waterline at the top of your head. I think your latest video has the waterline at the top of your head still. By holding your head just a little higher, it will make it easier to breathe with a minimum of turning.
Your fish tail has decreased immensely from video to video, but when your head gets too low, it requires that you lift and turn your head while breathing. You shouldn't have to lift to breathe. Soon as you do, your hips will drop and your alignment begins messing up.
One visualization/sensation drill that has improved the efficiency of my stroke lately is to pretend that I am a telephone pole or that my body is a surfboard and my arms are paddles. My stroke motion mimics paddling a surfboard with my body roll feeling similar to paddling a surfboard or a telephone pole. That ensures I keep a straight line from my head all the way to my feet. Don't know if that would work for you or not.
Best of luck. For one year swimming you are showing tremendous results!
