Catch a wave...Or the swimming thread

[Kimmyt]

We watched these amazing vids last night before swim class, and they helped me a TON, or at least it felt like it, my lane partners were commenting on my speed, but I didn't feel too winded and their comments surprised me because I felt like I was going normal speed. Basically, I agree with alpinerabbit, in that after watching these vids I'm wondering what 'too much rotation' could be. The film segments in this video are great, and they really emphasize the rotation. Unfortunately we didn't watch the freestyle one, but for the backstroke one I was struck by how they aren't EVER kicking on their back. All kicks are done almost completely 'sideways' very rotated on the hip. I'm imagining it's pretty similar with freestyle.

So I'm wondering if your 'over-rotation' is more of a problem with over-rotating your shoulders as opposed to your hips, which seems to be where the rotation should come from as you swim...

K.

[alpinerabbit]

Whaddaya think of my 2000m time trial mark (blech, I was not amused when it was announced) - I did not over-exert myself, and I had even splits on all 500s:

40:40

well...it's not living up to the 18:40 1000m I did back in February (don't ask me how) but it's something..

[crazycanuck]

I have figured out the issue with my right side & am on the way to perfecting me stroke.

This is how i describe it-When you 'rotate' left, i wasn't holding onto the top of the water long enough with my right arm. My coach is back from holiday & said my stroke is better.

My pilates studio & I are working on it with varying exercises

There is hope

[firenze11]

My pilates studio & I are working on it with varying exercises

That's so cool that you're using pilates to help and they can give you exercises to help. I'm curious about pilates, I have friends who just love it.

Does anyone have tips for mastering (haha, take that word loosely) the butterfly? I know this is the triathlon thread and triathletes usually opt for freestyle, but I thought I'd go ahead and ask. I just started learning it last week and I'm awful at it. I can't get the kick right even though I seem to have the hang of it on dry land, well, the wavy body part. And when I try to add the arms in, I can only take two strokes (also used loosely here) before stopping. Mainly I feel like there's no power in my kick. My instructor is great but I was just wondering if you had any tips/tricks.

[slowlane]

Do you do any fly-specific drills? i.e. - one-arm - or just kick? I'm a masters swimmer who does the 200 & 400 IM & what I find the best practice for the fly is: kicking with fins to get the proper rhythm - also - go to USMS.org and look up 'training' they have lots of good information. Jane Katz has a book for beginning swimming with good illustrations also (I'd give you the name, but can't remember it).

[firenze11]

Do you do any fly-specific drills? i.e. - one-arm - or just kick? I'm a masters swimmer who does the 200 & 400 IM & what I find the best practice for the fly is: kicking with fins to get the proper rhythm - also - go to USMS.org and look up 'training' they have lots of good information. Jane Katz has a book for beginning swimming with good illustrations also (I'd give you the name, but can't remember it).

Wow, thanks! The USMS website looks really helpful. And I'll look up the Katz book.

We did one-armed fly drills on Wednesday and I found that helped a lot. I think going straight into it just confused me. We don't have fins but I might look into buying a pair if I get more serious about swimming.

[alpinerabbit]

I think the trick with fly is the timing between legs and arms. I can do maybe 15 meters these days, 6-8 strokes - almost a whole short length of the pool if I dive long in the beginning (which is no sin, I'm told).

I guess everytime you push off the wall from now on, you can add a couple dolphin kicks. also do some dolphin dives everytime you cool down.

I think it's not entirely correct but if you breathe to the side, you don't have to lift your head out of the water quite as high.

I also started just doing a few easy strokes without breathing and without actually lifting my arms wide out of the water, to get the rhythm down.