Quote Originally Posted by alpinerabbit View Post
Start by practicing blowing bubbles underwater until you have expelled everything. Maybe standing with your upper body and arms horizontal.

Then go on to the following drills:

http://www.limmatsharks.com/basic_drills.html

Do these religiously. We still do these in Tri Club practice.

Then start back on the arm stroke.

There are more excellent articles on freestyle and other strokes: http://www.svl.ch ---> Tips in English
I was going to suggest the same thing!

I'm a newbie swimmer & I bought Laughlin's book - Total Immersion. He does these drills starting with swimming on your back, then tilting to the side.

On breathing, his drills say that rather than just moving your head, you need to tilt your entire body during freestyle. He also talks about slipping through the water and not expending a lot of effort, but being slower and more controlled. It works!! I'm working on these drills & they're helping!

I suggest his book for the visuals, like slipping through the water with the smallest form - he compares a tug boat to a kayake. He gives some excellent drills too.

signed - former "glub glub club"