used to last 50m freestyle, started reducing stroke pace and force applied (especially with the legs), now I swim more efficient while being just as "fast" and can last hundreds of meters
Keeping the head down. Probably further than he would think it should be. Want to feel the water rushing over the shoulders. Feels almost like you’re swimming downhill. This will keep your feet up and get you moving quickly through the water. Breathing at a regular frequency. I swim for distance and usually breathe every four strokes. In between I let a little air out. The regular frequency will help you relax and know what to expect. Shouldn’t be struggling to breathe in the pool. That will wear you out. Breathing at the right time, not too early or too late. Breathe too soon and your feet will drop. Breath is too late and you got a mouth of water. Also screws with your rhythm. Reach the hands out directly in front of the shoulders. Too wide and you are creating more drag. Too narrow and you don’t get good power.
Keep the feet in a so-called narrow bucket when churning.. Try to minimize all splashing bubbles and noise. Should be cutting through the water. Anything extra is just wasted energy.
THIS IS SO SPOOKY,while swimming today i wondered if GTN had a video on hand position as in fingers closed, open slightly, arm position etc....come in from work open UA-cam and up pops this video *unbelievable!😯
Well, blow me down, I never knew that about the finger spacing in the hand. I have been cupping my hands and getting very little forward propulsion. It's genuinely new information and I will try it this week - thank you for that. I reckon I have lead for bones in my legs so still working on getting them to float as well.
Love this! I am working towards my first tri next year, and even though I have always been a strong swimmer, I am looking for ways to improve. Gonna try these at the pool today!
Always here to help! We've got a whole playlist of swimming content for you to get better: ua-cam.com/play/PLRjIvR8JIRzEFO9pZlQVQgzxJxs41eagJ.html&si=tJWNNpd84-wlb17W
Thank you so much for sharing your personal struggles. All to often people go through the same( my self included) and they feel like they are the only ones dealing with this
I do like to keep my palm and fingers slightly concave, about the same as the surface of a basketball. There are many reasons why the paddles on paddle boards, kayaks, and the racing skulls are concave.
Great ideas and good demo. Next time you are in the Chicago, IL area look me up, I would be happy to be filmed and demonstrate for free. Some of Mark’s pitch, pull and follow thru - while good - can certainly be shown differently. One last thing I notice about so many adult onset swimmers, they pull their hand out instead of pushing the water fully back. BTW - I used the run tips (aero chicken!!!) today. Very nice and super helpful actually.
I think I do this naturally, because it's really easy to monitor the amount of water resistance on the pull. The more resistance, the more forward propelling, I guess. I heard about the spacing of the fingers when I learned breaststroke 65 years ago. I naturally assumed that what's good for the goose is good for the gander, so I employ the spread for freestyle as well
I totally get that you need to have slight gaps when you make the catch and through the pull. But as you reach forwards under water before the catch then surely the fingers should be tight together?
You probably haven’t developed a good breathing rhythm yet. Plan on your breathing. Breathe every two three or four strokes. Also, keep your head down. If your heads too high, your feet sink and then you really be struggling to move through the water. That will make you breathe a lot
What else have you tried to improve your swimming efficiency? 🏊♀
Head positioning.
used to last 50m freestyle, started reducing stroke pace and force applied (especially with the legs), now I swim more efficient while being just as "fast" and can last hundreds of meters
Keeping the head down. Probably further than he would think it should be. Want to feel the water rushing over the shoulders. Feels almost like you’re swimming downhill. This will keep your feet up and get you moving quickly through the water.
Breathing at a regular frequency. I swim for distance and usually breathe every four strokes. In between I let a little air out. The regular frequency will help you relax and know what to expect. Shouldn’t be struggling to breathe in the pool. That will wear you out.
Breathing at the right time, not too early or too late. Breathe too soon and your feet will drop. Breath is too late and you got a mouth of water. Also screws with your rhythm.
Reach the hands out directly in front of the shoulders. Too wide and you are creating more drag. Too narrow and you don’t get good power.
Keep the feet in a so-called narrow bucket when churning..
Try to minimize all splashing bubbles and noise. Should be cutting through the water. Anything extra is just wasted energy.
Better to go slow with good form and fast with poor form. So, start slow working to perfect form. In time, speed will improve dramatically.
THIS IS SO SPOOKY,while swimming today i wondered if GTN had a video on hand position as in fingers closed, open slightly, arm position etc....come in from work open UA-cam and up pops this video *unbelievable!😯
I had similar thoughts today in the pool cool
I appreciate you summoning this video for which I had a dire need.
Well, blow me down, I never knew that about the finger spacing in the hand. I have been cupping my hands and getting very little forward propulsion. It's genuinely new information and I will try it this week - thank you for that.
I reckon I have lead for bones in my legs so still working on getting them to float as well.
Keep your head down. Lead legs will go away
Love this! I am working towards my first tri next year, and even though I have always been a strong swimmer, I am looking for ways to improve. Gonna try these at the pool today!
Convincing explanations, even for a beginner learning freestyle swimming. I love your videos, thank you very much.
Great video, thanks!
Started swimming this month, and I'm very grateful for the great tip!
Always here to help!
We've got a whole playlist of swimming content for you to get better: ua-cam.com/play/PLRjIvR8JIRzEFO9pZlQVQgzxJxs41eagJ.html&si=tJWNNpd84-wlb17W
Thank you so much for sharing your personal struggles. All to often people go through the same( my self included) and they feel like they are the only ones dealing with this
I like that forearm drill with paddle. Will try that next time out.
I do like to keep my palm and fingers slightly concave, about the same as the surface of a basketball. There are many reasons why the paddles on paddle boards, kayaks, and the racing skulls are concave.
great vid
Great ideas and good demo. Next time you are in the Chicago, IL area look me up, I would be happy to be filmed and demonstrate for free. Some of Mark’s pitch, pull and follow thru - while good - can certainly be shown differently. One last thing I notice about so many adult onset swimmers, they pull their hand out instead of pushing the water fully back. BTW - I used the run tips (aero chicken!!!) today. Very nice and super helpful actually.
Lovely video, hands down :-) I had one coach tell me it was a bad idea to allow space between fingers, another said the opposite...
Amazing. 30 years of swimming and I've never heard this 😊
I think I do this naturally, because it's really easy to monitor the amount of water resistance on the pull. The more resistance, the more forward propelling, I guess.
I heard about the spacing of the fingers when I learned breaststroke 65 years ago. I naturally assumed that what's good for the goose is good for the gander, so I employ the spread for freestyle as well
I totally get that you need to have slight gaps when you make the catch and through the pull. But as you reach forwards under water before the catch then surely the fingers should be tight together?
Really good tips, Mark, thanks. I'll have to try out those drills. BTW, the word is spelled Sculling, not Skulling.
Making all the mistakes.
sir please why a lot of pro swimmer hand drag into their stomach before it finish its it S pull important? please sir
The only mistake I don't make when swimming is stopping swimming. All others are a giant check mark.
Absolutely nothing about my swimming form is relaxed so we‘re not looking good on that front.
🤣
Its not the hands, its first the body position, second the body position and third the body position, in my case 😉
The best description I've heard is "Barbie hands."
I always feel a shortness of breath when swimming no clue why.
You probably haven’t developed a good breathing rhythm yet. Plan on your breathing. Breathe every two three or four strokes.
Also, keep your head down. If your heads too high, your feet sink and then you really be struggling to move through the water. That will make you breathe a lot
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