Thank you for the video. I have this issue that my arms already fatique after 200m because it seems I am applying force to pull too soon. I do immediately extend and catch the water, so that I have a high elbow, my wrist is pointing down. So my forearm is slighlty under my elbow but forearm and hand is in front of the elbow. Then I Apply force to pull like I am pulling on a rope. Should I rather lead my forearm and hand in front of my my body to create this kind of wall, considting of elbow, hand and forearm forming a plane or is it really meant to pull like immediately when my elbow is higher then my forearm and hand although they are still kind of extended? Basically my question is if you apply force from the catch to the powerphase, since the powerphase is the one where you apply power I think right? 😅
You're on the right track . The correct technique in swimming when it comes to pulling can be a little bit tiring at first... like we mentioned we are using the biggest muscles we have . So that's why building your swim fitness has to always be part of improving your technique. With the catch you want to be able to grab that water as soon as you are able , in the beginning you may have to let the arm drop quite a bit before you can take hold of the water, but with time and improved feel, technique and fitness you will be able to grab it sooner ...world class swimmers as you saw on video can grab almost immediately, but that takes time to build up...my catch is earlier when im more fit and later when less fit...but yes the most power comes when you start bending the elbow...hope all this makes sense🙏
Superb video!! Makes me want to run to the pool to try the tips. I'm struggling a bit with understanding if I'm supposed to pull my arm as such or just use my lats to resist, kind of sticking the oar in as it were, and use my core rotation for power rather than my lats.... or both... or one first and then the other. If you have a trigger for when to start the catch that would really help too. Is it when you're flat and the other hand is entering the water or when the returning hand passes your head.... or something else? Anyway, loved the video. Thanks.
Thanks for the kind words! Good questions, the key is to keep it simple in your mind..the freestyle is your entire body moving in unison from one side to the other ...the core is an excellent pivot point and initiator of this movement, so you are on the right track there. Begin the catch when you are at maximum extension and the point where you begin to rotate back to the other side ..if you are full extended you will have no option but to engage your lats if that makes sense...hope that helps and happy swimming!
Muchísimas gracias from Valencia, Spain. Monday morning 07.00 I'm trying all of those drills, so is my lane buddy, he just doesn't know it yet.🙂 Thanks again.
Funny question but, would you say that your glutes are squeezed together or "engaged" when swimming freestyle? PS..I have seen lots of improvement in my freestyle since I have started watching your videos! Was out of breath swimming 25yds now I can swim 50yds no problem. Thanks for all your help!
Haha good question! I wouldn't say glutes are squeezed but definitely engaged when swimming freestyle .. And awesome to hear the videos have helped... comments like yours make my day, we are planning to keep the content coming so I hope you stick around 🙏💪👊
Is it just me or does it seem like your recovery arm always enters the water flat and already fully stretched out rather than entering at an angle with a high elbow?
@@siskatrainingsystems Indeed. I'm a beginner, but I've noticed most, if not all, of the people I've watched so far mention and show to make the arm enter the water at an angle and reaching forward.. whereas your arms seem to be already fully stretched out before reaching the water, and enter the water completely flat. I'm still new to swimming, so I'm not sure what all the implications are, and I may not be able to properly verbalize exactly what I want to say in a way that accurately reflects what it is that I am noticing. Nevertheless, I thought I'd ask the question. You may have some insight!
The textbook way to enter is by having a high elbow as your above water hand passes by your ear with the forearm loose and dangling...if you do this as your stroke continues you naturally will enter the hand into the water at an angle...but the textbook way to swim may not be natural for everyone and there are other ways to recover the above water arm...the key is to have your arm more loose on top of the water and have it strong underneath....what you do once hand enters the water is the most important 💪👊
can we say that your lats get mostly active in the second half of the pull phase? to my knowledge, when your arm is 90° down and you finish pulling it back, thats the part where the lats can generate power right? as long as your arm is closer to the catch, its mostly a shoulder rotation which is far weaker than the lats. am i right on this? can we even say that most part of the pull phase is the preparation for the last 30% of it?
Yes your on the right track , the moment you start needing a high elbow is when all the big muscles are involved the most ... exactly you are setting this up in the beginning 👌
@@siskatrainingsystems great. Thanks. Seems im on the right course then. Ive done a couple hours swim training now (as part of my triathlon training) and im now very close to 2:00/100m. Yeah im slow but i have just started. Next will be to stabilize that speed over longer distances. Im not the biggest fan of swimming (yet) but i highly appreciate the technical aspect of it. I can respect that.
Great stuff, sounds like you just need to really start building your swim fitness... training the swim is all about interval work .. pay attention to your pace and it can become real motivational as you improve 💪
@@siskatrainingsystems thanks a lot. I have a video that teaches breathing. It says to start turning your head to breath as soon as your arm starts touching the water. Not later. I have done that today and the swim becomes way more fluent. Much less drag than before. Even managed a 37sec and two 43sec splits over 50m. I guess thats progress :-) but im glad my ironman starts not earlier than in 12 months. Becoming a swimmer is treacherous. It really takes time.
and for all the beginners, like myself. dont be frustrated if you are not as fast as others in the pool. even if you do lots of the different technical elements correctly (or kinda correctly), the body (the required muscles) needs to adapt to swimming. pulling through the water does fatique if your back etc. isnt well accustomed to it and then your form falls apart quickly. lets take cycling. if you do cycle correctly (which is obviously far easier than swimming), you will never be able to be as fast on the bike as an experienced rider. your legs will simply tire out too quickly.
Good points, you just have to build fitness... ideally you are training your swim muscles fitness wise while adjusting the technique...doing technique only without training your swim fitness wise will only get you so far...but with consistent training you can keep up with the experienced guys💪
It’s the ego plain and simple for adult onset swimmers. Cycling is all physiology and not much technique hence you have bike fit to be on optimal position. Swimming you need technique and fitness.
@@jacklauren9359 i guess so yeah. my fitness is above average. my technique is getting a little better. i have managed to become a 2:00/100m swimmer in a few weeks. i could swim 1:50 but im not there yet to sustain that. atm i am focusing mostly on breathing. breathing is currently the only element that is prohibiting me from swimming long distances. when i get that breathing pattern/relaxation right, ill be able to swim miles. not very fast, but its fast enough for me atm. but yeah, i need to find the balance of how much inhaling/exhaling to stay comfortable.
well being one with water doesnt help it requires more actionable ques ..everyone is keeping high the elbow..but there wont be power if you pull it the wrong way..nothing to do with dropped elbow either...it is about the feel.of lat strech.the.same.on hip.side then applying power but is it a pull or squeeze.that you do with upper arm to.torso? then extending the arm further back hand always pointing down etc...i am not sayying squeeze.works (sometime with correct rotation though you feel it does) but at least its a que something you can imagine doing while pulling..we need more ques like that..being one with water? well this is not matrix :)
Thanks for the feedback...good point , that was something that popped into my head in that moment...If I take a moment to think about a good que when it comes to pulling the water ...I would say after your hand begins the catch let your whole side "lean " into that catch...almost like a rock climber who is grabbing a higher point on the mountain and then the whole body leans into that point to reach a higher point ...is that better?...hope you still found the video helpful
well yes at least that i can try...but this i believe is still in the catch phase almost after hand entry dropping the forearm for evf...otherwise i cant imagine leaning on the pulling arm..thanks
@@sercanorcaner3666 I know it's hard explain through words , that's why I will try to clarify with future videos in demonstrations ...yes you catch the water, lean on that catch and then push off from it ... imagine that when you begin the catch there is a barrell ( like a beer keg turned on it's side ) when you start catching the water the barrel is underneath you , you can't drop your elbow, because your arm is over the barrel , all you can do is lean on it with a high elbow and then push off of the barrel , accelerating your whole body forward leaving the barrel behind ...
@@siskatrainingsystems that i do imagine all the time i know it works cause i know what happens when i dont...maybe the most practical analogy so far: the barrel..but when pushing the barrel back do i push it back like i am.flat or since i am also rotating for the other hand to iniate.catch, do i squeeze as if there is a football in my arm pit? or what other ques are there to describe that phase: the push including the finish and rotation altogether..why does it have to be so technical ? :)) i just want to.glide over the top regardless of how.rough is the water like those triathlethes there hopefully not with that much effort :)) just kidding but this is why we need ques cause it is harder doing it then being able to say it..
Yes the lats are a major contributor...but you should feel it in your pecs as well...the chest is huge in swimming and one of the defining characteristics of the classic swimmers body
Hi Mr Siska, do you do video analysis? I am trying to improve my freestyle swimming. If you have a couple of minutes to point out my biggest problems and how to solve them would be highly appreciated: watch?v=S6DL16aHY0Q
Thanks for the message, hi yes we do video analysis, I can't seem to open the link to take a quick look , but if you want an official analysis...our rate for this service is $125 USD ...it would involve sending some simple videos of you swimming ideally from multiple angles..we would put the images into our software, slow it down and I personally would provide commentary and steps for improvement...if your interested, email me at lusiskafc@gmail.com and put video analysis in the subject line..👍
What part of this video did you find most helpful? Let's us know below! 👇😃
Thanks
Oh my goodness. Best swimming video on the internet!!!!🎉
So nice of you to say!
Thanks Luke
My pleasure!
One of the best yt swim videos, great tips and fresh look at the things. Filming also keeps you aware.
Really appreciate that! Means a lot ❤️
Very subtle and crisp explanation
I appreciate it, hope it helps!
One of the best swimming videos ❤❤❤ keep going
Thanks for the encouragement! Definitely want to keep it going 🙏
Thanks!
Thank you!
Love the videos, really helpful!! 👏
Thank you!
Great video! Love the bloopers! 😂
Thanks Mom! 😅❤️
Thank you! All tips were useful.
Thanks for watching, I'm so glad!
Thanks Lucas!
My pleasure!
Thank you for a great video ❤
You are so welcome!
Major payne!
Great movie isn't it!? 😁
Good job!
Thanks!
Cool tips. Thank you.
Appreciate it, thanks for watching!
Thank you for the video. I have this issue that my arms already fatique after 200m because it seems I am applying force to pull too soon. I do immediately extend and catch the water, so that I have a high elbow, my wrist is pointing down.
So my forearm is slighlty under my elbow but forearm and hand is in front of the elbow. Then I Apply force to pull like I am pulling on a rope. Should I rather lead my forearm and hand in front of my my body to create this kind of wall, considting of elbow, hand and forearm forming a plane or is it really meant to pull like immediately when my elbow is higher then my forearm and hand although they are still kind of extended? Basically my question is if you apply force from the catch to the powerphase, since the powerphase is the one where you apply power I think right? 😅
You're on the right track . The correct technique in swimming when it comes to pulling can be a little bit tiring at first... like we mentioned we are using the biggest muscles we have . So that's why building your swim fitness has to always be part of improving your technique.
With the catch you want to be able to grab that water as soon as you are able , in the beginning you may have to let the arm drop quite a bit before you can take hold of the water, but with time and improved feel, technique and fitness you will be able to grab it sooner ...world class swimmers as you saw on video can grab almost immediately, but that takes time to build up...my catch is earlier when im more fit and later when less fit...but yes the most power comes when you start bending the elbow...hope all this makes sense🙏
Superb video!! Makes me want to run to the pool to try the tips. I'm struggling a bit with understanding if I'm supposed to pull my arm as such or just use my lats to resist, kind of sticking the oar in as it were, and use my core rotation for power rather than my lats.... or both... or one first and then the other.
If you have a trigger for when to start the catch that would really help too. Is it when you're flat and the other hand is entering the water or when the returning hand passes your head.... or something else?
Anyway, loved the video. Thanks.
Thanks for the kind words! Good questions, the key is to keep it simple in your mind..the freestyle is your entire body moving in unison from one side to the other ...the core is an excellent pivot point and initiator of this movement, so you are on the right track there. Begin the catch when you are at maximum extension and the point where you begin to rotate back to the other side ..if you are full extended you will have no option but to engage your lats if that makes sense...hope that helps and happy swimming!
Muchísimas gracias from Valencia, Spain. Monday morning 07.00 I'm trying all of those drills, so is my lane buddy, he just doesn't know it yet.🙂 Thanks again.
My pleasure
Funny question but, would you say that your glutes are squeezed together or "engaged" when swimming freestyle?
PS..I have seen lots of improvement in my freestyle since I have started watching your videos! Was out of breath swimming 25yds now I can swim 50yds no problem.
Thanks for all your help!
Haha good question! I wouldn't say glutes are squeezed but definitely engaged when swimming freestyle ..
And awesome to hear the videos have helped... comments like yours make my day, we are planning to keep the content coming so I hope you stick around 🙏💪👊
Is it just me or does it seem like your recovery arm always enters the water flat and already fully stretched out rather than entering at an angle with a high elbow?
Are you talking about how your arm enters the water from above the water ?
@@siskatrainingsystems Indeed. I'm a beginner, but I've noticed most, if not all, of the people I've watched so far mention and show to make the arm enter the water at an angle and reaching forward.. whereas your arms seem to be already fully stretched out before reaching the water, and enter the water completely flat.
I'm still new to swimming, so I'm not sure what all the implications are, and I may not be able to properly verbalize exactly what I want to say in a way that accurately reflects what it is that I am noticing. Nevertheless, I thought I'd ask the question.
You may have some insight!
The textbook way to enter is by having a high elbow as your above water hand passes by your ear with the forearm loose and dangling...if you do this as your stroke continues you naturally will enter the hand into the water at an angle...but the textbook way to swim may not be natural for everyone and there are other ways to recover the above water arm...the key is to have your arm more loose on top of the water and have it strong underneath....what you do once hand enters the water is the most important 💪👊
can we say that your lats get mostly active in the second half of the pull phase? to my knowledge, when your arm is 90° down and you finish pulling it back, thats the part where the lats can generate power right? as long as your arm is closer to the catch, its mostly a shoulder rotation which is far weaker than the lats. am i right on this? can we even say that most part of the pull phase is the preparation for the last 30% of it?
Yes your on the right track , the moment you start needing a high elbow is when all the big muscles are involved the most ... exactly you are setting this up in the beginning 👌
@@siskatrainingsystems great. Thanks. Seems im on the right course then. Ive done a couple hours swim training now (as part of my triathlon training) and im now very close to 2:00/100m. Yeah im slow but i have just started. Next will be to stabilize that speed over longer distances. Im not the biggest fan of swimming (yet) but i highly appreciate the technical aspect of it. I can respect that.
Great stuff, sounds like you just need to really start building your swim fitness... training the swim is all about interval work .. pay attention to your pace and it can become real motivational as you improve 💪
@@siskatrainingsystems thanks a lot. I have a video that teaches breathing. It says to start turning your head to breath as soon as your arm starts touching the water. Not later. I have done that today and the swim becomes way more fluent. Much less drag than before. Even managed a 37sec and two 43sec splits over 50m. I guess thats progress :-) but im glad my ironman starts not earlier than in 12 months. Becoming a swimmer is treacherous. It really takes time.
and for all the beginners, like myself. dont be frustrated if you are not as fast as others in the pool. even if you do lots of the different technical elements correctly (or kinda correctly), the body (the required muscles) needs to adapt to swimming. pulling through the water does fatique if your back etc. isnt well accustomed to it and then your form falls apart quickly.
lets take cycling. if you do cycle correctly (which is obviously far easier than swimming), you will never be able to be as fast on the bike as an experienced rider. your legs will simply tire out too quickly.
Good points, you just have to build fitness... ideally you are training your swim muscles fitness wise while adjusting the technique...doing technique only without training your swim fitness wise will only get you so far...but with consistent training you can keep up with the experienced guys💪
It’s the ego plain and simple for adult onset swimmers. Cycling is all physiology and not much technique hence you have bike fit to be on optimal position. Swimming you need technique and fitness.
@@jacklauren9359 i guess so yeah. my fitness is above average. my technique is getting a little better. i have managed to become a 2:00/100m swimmer in a few weeks. i could swim 1:50 but im not there yet to sustain that. atm i am focusing mostly on breathing. breathing is currently the only element that is prohibiting me from swimming long distances. when i get that breathing pattern/relaxation right, ill be able to swim miles. not very fast, but its fast enough for me atm. but yeah, i need to find the balance of how much inhaling/exhaling to stay comfortable.
well being one with water doesnt help it requires more actionable ques ..everyone is keeping high the elbow..but there wont be power if you pull it the wrong way..nothing to do with dropped elbow either...it is about the feel.of lat strech.the.same.on hip.side then applying power but is it a pull or squeeze.that you do with upper arm to.torso? then extending the arm further back hand always pointing down etc...i am not sayying squeeze.works (sometime with correct rotation though you feel it does) but at least its a que something you can imagine doing while pulling..we need more ques like that..being one with water? well this is not matrix :)
Thanks for the feedback...good point , that was something that popped into my head in that moment...If I take a moment to think about a good que when it comes to pulling the water ...I would say after your hand begins the catch let your whole side "lean " into that catch...almost like a rock climber who is grabbing a higher point on the mountain and then the whole body leans into that point to reach a higher point ...is that better?...hope you still found the video helpful
well yes at least that i can try...but this i believe is still in the catch phase almost after hand entry dropping the forearm for evf...otherwise i cant imagine leaning on the pulling arm..thanks
@@sercanorcaner3666 I know it's hard explain through words , that's why I will try to clarify with future videos in demonstrations ...yes you catch the water, lean on that catch and then push off from it ... imagine that when you begin the catch there is a barrell ( like a beer keg turned on it's side ) when you start catching the water the barrel is underneath you , you can't drop your elbow, because your arm is over the barrel , all you can do is lean on it with a high elbow and then push off of the barrel , accelerating your whole body forward leaving the barrel behind ...
@@siskatrainingsystems that i do imagine all the time i know it works cause i know what happens when i dont...maybe the most practical analogy so far: the barrel..but when pushing the barrel back do i push it back like i am.flat or since i am also rotating for the other hand to iniate.catch, do i squeeze as if there is a football in my arm pit? or what other ques are there to describe that phase: the push including the finish and rotation altogether..why does it have to be so technical ? :)) i just want to.glide over the top regardless of how.rough is the water like those triathlethes there hopefully not with that much effort :)) just kidding but this is why we need ques cause it is harder doing it then being able to say it..
Tried to add more cues to the other vid I made in regards to catch mistakes, your input was the reason, thank you
The operative phrase is ".. using your lats.". If you feel it in your pecs but not in your lats, then you're not doing it right.
Yes the lats are a major contributor...but you should feel it in your pecs as well...the chest is huge in swimming and one of the defining characteristics of the classic swimmers body
Hi Mr Siska, do you do video analysis? I am trying to improve my freestyle swimming. If you have a couple of minutes to point out my biggest problems and how to solve them would be highly appreciated: watch?v=S6DL16aHY0Q
Thanks for the message, hi yes we do video analysis, I can't seem to open the link to take a quick look , but if you want an official analysis...our rate for this service is $125 USD ...it would involve sending some simple videos of you swimming ideally from multiple angles..we would put the images into our software, slow it down and I personally would provide commentary and steps for improvement...if your interested, email me at lusiskafc@gmail.com and put video analysis in the subject line..👍
cool
Thanks!
Thanks!
My pleasure!
Thanks!
Really appreciate it thank you!