I was hitting a consistent 17-18 strokes per length this morning.
COOL!!! See, it wasn't so magical afterall, was it? It's amazing how much mental there is to swimming. Most of the time, while I'm swimming, I'm thinking "technique, technique, technique."
COOL!!! See, it wasn't so magical afterall, was it? It's amazing how much mental there is to swimming. Most of the time, while I'm swimming, I'm thinking "technique, technique, technique."
Yeah well...I'm still nowhere near your 11-12 range. That seems very far away or even out of range. However, I'm not really hung up on lowering my SPL. If I can move through the water with fluid motion and not waste energy I figure I'm doing great.
After all..wouldn't arm length have something to do with SPL? I would think that the most efficient number of strokes is as unique as shoe size. Am I right on that?
After all..wouldn't arm length have something to do with SPL? I would think that the most efficient number of strokes is as unique as shoe size. Am I right on that?
Of course a guy who' s 7' tall is going to have a lower SPL than an equally-efficient swimmer who's only 4' tall... but most of SPL is a matter of efficiency + technique + strength as opposed to height/arm length.
Kick strength, distance per UW streamline, and technique have much more to do with SPL than does height.
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Yeah well...I'm still nowhere near your 11-12 range.
Don't be misled... that happened onceand maybe even that was in my dreams!
I usually avg about 14-16. Today, I had one length of 13 that felt really "right" the whole way but that was only one. I'm not hung up on it either but, when it started feeling so good, I thought I better count this one. I'm not normally counting all the time.
Are you guys doing this with regular breathing or trying to do the length on one breath? One breath is a more accurate measure since you won't spend too much time on the glide. I mean, I could do it in two strokes if I could hold my breath for 10 minutes.
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Today's mighty oak was once just some nut who held his ground!
I usually only take a breath or 2 per length. So using normal breathing.
(I'm not performing multiple laps before stopping for a short breather) When I'm counting SPL I like to stop and think abou what I did right/wrong between lengths. Not to mention I enjoy breathing while I'm thinking.:p
Reminds me that when my dad was competing in college the breast stroke was done underwater. You were only allowed to breath on the ends. Try that for a 400 yd event! To this day the man can just sit on the bottom of the pool forever.
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Today's mighty oak was once just some nut who held his ground!
Reminds me that when my dad was competing in college the breast stroke was done underwater. You were only allowed to breath on the ends. Try that for a 400 yd event! To this day the man can just sit on the bottom of the pool forever.
I think I'd float to the top way before finishing that 400...
Reminds me that when my dad was competing in college the breast stroke was done underwater. You were only allowed to breath on the ends. Try that for a 400 yd event! To this day the man can just sit on the bottom of the pool forever.
If Dad is sitting on the bottom of the pool forever, you might want to check on him!
Is he really lean? It's hard for me to sink without exhaling.
I am swimming a lot nowadays.. thanks to the beautiful summer here in India. This thread is old but kind of relates to the question I have. So did not feel like starting a new one.
I swim continuously for 30 mins.. No breaks but only 12 laps. Any advice on how to increase the distance covered? My speed/strokes are governed by the amount of time I can exhale underwater.
Hey...havent been here in a bit, but I am sure others will respond. Swimming is a lot of Technique and technique and yes more technique. The more relaxed and comfortable in the water you are, the more efficient you will become.
MY advice is to get a person that is knowledgable in swimming technique to watch your stroke and comment on what they see. it is a highly effective tool.
Perhaps you are not 'Catching" water with your hand and arm as you move it through the water, at least not as efficiently as you can. When your hand enters the water, make sure you can feel the pressure of the water on your hand as your body moves over it during the ENTIRE stroke cycle.
Next time you get to the pool, stand in the shallow water, and just move your hand in the water, feel the way the water moves as your hand moves through it, feel the pressure changes as you change the angle of your hand. Move it slowly and then fast through the water, noting which one seems to move more water. Then when you swim you can try and duplicate that feeling in your actual stroke.
Ruma, sorry for the long response and I hope that I did not totally confuse you.
I am sure that others will have more to add, or change to my comments but without actually seeing your stroke it is hard for me to comment, but I tried..
Next time you get to the pool, stand in the shallow water, and just move your hand in the water, feel the way the water moves as your hand moves through it, feel the pressure changes as you change the angle of your hand. Move it slowly and then fast through the water, noting which one seems to move more water. Then when you swim you can try and duplicate that feeling in your actual stroke.
Thanks swiminto. I am going to try this and see.. Your explanation sounds scientific.. thanks
Breaststrokes are fine. I am able to pull a lot of water.
I am struggling more with the free style. When I being the stroke my arm comes out parallel to my thighs. Then I bend them at the elbow at 30 degrees (approx), pointing my fingers towards the water and then take the arm inside with the fingers going in first. I make that arm go all the way to the front parallel to my body and streching it completely before starting to pull water. I start a full pull by bending my palms inwards at the wrist, taking my arm all the way to my thigh, not bending it. By the end of the stroke my arm is parallel to my thigh again. When this arm is 90 degrees(approx) to my body I start the second stroke with the other arm. ( I wish I could attach a video for you.. but I tried my english instead )
hmmm....stumbled across this thread while bored; I don't normally come here. However, this thread is NOT about what I thought it was going to be about (sigh!).
Note to self: get mind out of gutter.
__________________ "I'm growing older but not up. My metabolic rate is pleasantly stuck. So let the winds of change blow over my head. I'd rather die while I'm living then live while I'm dead."
For me, SPL has more to do with making my legs do more work and arms do less. I try to find a different ratio than I had in the past and, when my legs are producing, my arms don't have to as much. I try to do the Total Immersion thing of "anchoring" with the arms and swimming past them. I try to reduce pulling so much as this leads to shoulder problems for some. I do a lot of laps without using arms at all with the intent of improving my kick output. They say that all your power comes from your torso anyway so I have a lot of rotation from side to side.
Sorry Ruma, I should have said that you can do the standing in shallow water and pulling for bresatroke, as well as freestyle pull. Sculling is also a good indicator of how much water you are moving.
Ruma I think I understand what you are describing, and it sounds like you are doing some things very well, High elbow revovery, full pull stroke, indicated by your hand exiting the water at your thigh.
Try doing a drill called "catch up"...start with you on your stomach in the water kicking freestyle, both hands out in front of you as if you were swimming. Start with the right hand, do a full arm stroke, and put the hand back in the water where it strated, ONLY when the right hand is done with stroke and back in front of you, can you start the pull with the left hand. Do the same thing with the left hand, do a full arm stroke, placing the hand where it originally started from, once the left hand is back in position, pull with the right. Continue for a lap or two. Remember to kick throughout the drill.
This drill will make your lower body work a bit harder as the kick is continouous, also the drill allows you to concentrate on one arem pull at a time, concentrating on the front part of your stroke.
Here is another link that you may find a little more in depth....
Thanks swiminto for the info on drills. I did some research on different kinds of drills and I came across the catch up drill as well. There was 1 drill that really caught my attention: the 10/ 10 drill where you kick 10 times on one side while holding one arm in front and the other on the thigh. 5 Technique Drills to Make you a Better, Faster, and More Effcicient Swimmer Video - About.com
I felt I had a problem here.. I could not hold myself in the side position for 10 kicks and holding the front arm in place. I was sinking after 3 kicks. I could keep myself afloat if I were doing a pull with the front arm though.
Also I figured(after reading few articles) I need to rotate my body with every stroke. It should never be lying flat on the water. It should be turned towards the side of the arm that is out of water( i.e not the one that is doing the pull). But head should not be rotated. Head should be rotated with the body on the same side when I am ready for a breath. If I work on rotating my body with every stroke.. is that going to help speed?
Tomorrow is my swim day. I am going to try the catch up drill you suggested. Can I combine multiple drills on the same day? Or is it better to focus on one at a time?
--Edit--
Q, I just read your post. You are hinting that rotation helps speed..so this verifies my understanding from other articles. Good to know I have been reading correct information
Ruma..good drill the 10 and 10 and if you are really struggling with it, you can do 6 kicks on each side until you get stronger , then you can move up to 10 kicks on either side.
Yes rotation is very important, just remember to rotate the whole body. To visualize this, imagine that there is a pole from your neck all the way down your spine. Your body rotates as a whole not in pieces while swimming.
I would concentrate on one or two drills, a workout....this way you con really concentrate on one particular aspect of your swimming at a time. When you get stronger, you can start adding drills or even combining drills .
one question about this rolling.. I could not get it quite right.. should we or should not we roll our head along with the body? The article I read asked to keep the head straight and only roll out of water when I need a breath. But it's very difficult to not roll your head when you roll the body..
When NOT breathing, your head should stay in a neutral position in freestyle. When you do breath, your head turns along with the body to minimize the drag.
Again think of the pole running from your neck, through your spine...when swimming the head styas in neutral position, this position allows for a good rotation. Now when you breath, that pole extends to the top of your head, and your head rotates WITH your body.
I will try and PM you with some photos of what I mean form another website. Hope that it works.
Haaaah.. yesterday's swim session was a good eye opener. I did the 6-6 and catch drill each 3 laps... at least I tried. It will take a lot more practise I think to perfect it. I am drinking water through my nose and mouth.. way lot more than I could think
One good thing I realised that rolling , high elbow and minimizing the gap between front arm and neck considerably increased the speed. I was much faster yesterday.
I tried to roll my body with the catch drill and that is where it started getting difficult. I was spending way more time underwater and could not time the breathing well. It started becoming a mess catch drill + rolling. So thought of concentrating on the roll for the next few swim sessions and then back to the catch drill and 6-6.
I want to verify one understanding : The roll initiates from the hip and move upwards to the torso. I felt it was easier to do it this way than initiate the roll from the shoulder and move down to the hip. I read an article suggesting to initiate the roll from hip.
I woke up with a good sore back this morning Thanks for suggesting the drills swiminto
I woke up with a good sore back this morning Thanks for suggesting the drills swiminto
I have back troubles once in a while, too. I have a lot of rotation and I've wondered if all that twisting causes it. However, I often have back tightness regardless of what I'm doing, pool or gym.
Brad, do you also get a lower back pain? I swam on saturday and sunday and I had lower back and leg pain through out the weekend. Trying to understand if it is occuring from doing a certain drill wrong..
Great progress so far with rolling. I am able to roll my head out on left for breathing. My dad watched my rolls and he pointed out that I am rolling too much on left, that I am practically on my back while on the left side. Since I never rolled on the left before(always rolled on right) I am not able to get perfect balance unless I roll a bit more on left. I am doing the 6-6 drill everyday now until I am able to roll my body on both sides equally. After this catch drill will follow
I think I'd float to the top way before finishing that 400...
here in India. This thread is old but kind of relates to the question I have. So did not feel like starting a new one.
"I'm growing older but not up. My metabolic rate is pleasantly stuck. So let the winds of change blow over my head. I'd rather die while I'm living then live while I'm dead."
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