Strong side/weak side?

[Jimbo]

Though my swim technique is a work in progress. I have actually come to a place where I pretty much perform my swims like a machine. Same stroke, same turns, etc. However, I am trying to stay open minded to any changes that need to be made.

That said, as I have developed my swim technique, I have noticed something about my stroke. When reaching forward and stroking with my left arm, my left shoulder/arm actually comes into contact with the left side of my face. This actually makes my left stroke seem more effective or at least smoother than my right arm stroke. One reason is that on the left stroke I am keeping my head more aligned with my body making my body more streamlined. The left arm is straight out in front and the face is down head and neck are straight. That stroke is longer and deeper with less roll of my body because I will not be taking a breath at all on that stroke.

This does not occur when I stroke with my right arm since I am rolling left and usually getting a breath facing the left. I never breath on the right side, only the left. When I am several laps into a swim and have my rythm going, I am, most of the time, breathing with each right arm stroke. As I breath, I turn my head slightly to the left, but not a lot. I use my bodies roll to find the air with my face. I find my neck hurting if I trun my head too much so I have learned to roll just enought to allow for a good breath but I still do turn my head slightly to the left.

So my left stroke and right stroke are quite different.

Now, I would think that a having the same movement left and right would be more effective. True? So I tried altering my strokes but in order to do with my right arm what I do with my left I have to roll much more to get a breath with no turn of my head at all. I also find that a deeper roll slows me down and makes both strokes seem less affective.

Long story short - should I concern myself with altering my technique to occomodate a uniform style for both left and right strokes? Keep workin at it or is it normal to "favor" one side as the stronger stroke?

PS - If you read all that and understood it..and answer..you deserve an award of some kind.

[Jimbo]

Though my swim technique is a work in progress. I have actually come to a place where I pretty much perform my swims like a machine. Same stroke, same turns, etc. However, I am trying to stay open minded to any changes that need to be made.

That said, as I have developed my swim technique, I have noticed something about my stroke. When reaching forward and stroking with my left arm, my left shoulder/arm actually comes into contact with the left side of my face. This actually makes my left stroke seem more effective or at least smoother than my right arm stroke. One reason is that on the left stroke I am keeping my head more aligned with my body making my body more streamlined. The left arm is straight out in front and the face is down head and neck are straight. That stroke is longer and deeper with less roll of my body because I will not be taking a breath at all on that stroke.

This does not occur when I stroke with my right arm since I am rolling RIGHT and usually getting a breath facing the left. I never breath FACING the right side, only the left. When I am several laps into a swim and have my rythm going, I am, most of the time, breathing with each right arm stroke. As I breath, I turn my head slightly to the left, but not a lot. I use my bodie's roll to find the air with my face. I find my neck hurting if I trun my head much so I have learned to roll enough to allow for a good breath but I still do turn my head slightly to the left.

So my left stroke and right stroke are quite different.

Now, I would think that a having the same movement left and right would be more effective. True? So I tried altering my strokes but in order to do with my right arm what I do with my left I have to roll much more to get a breath with no turn of my head at all. I also find that a deeper roll slows me down and makes both strokes seem less affective.

Long story short - should I concern myself with altering my technique to occomodate a uniform style for both left and right strokes? Keep working at it or is it normal to "favor" one side as the stronger stroke?

PS - If you read all that and understood it..and answer..you deserve an award of some kind.

Sorry that was so long. I edited a few words to make it sensible. I screwed up in my original post.

[florablais]

Yup it is definetely difficult to try and visualize what you are talking about. There's no way that you could film yourself and then post eh?

Many swimmers favor a side. Drill work ends up becoming important in this respect. Drill work will educate your body to less favor one side over the other. If you go on USA swimming's website you can access some drills for the freestyle.

I'm very visual so I need to see to correct...

sorry that I can't be of more help.

[LisaS]

you could try not breathing on each and every stroke and see if your stroke evens itself out - just keep your head down and pull.

[Jimbo]

Originally Posted by florablais

Yup it is definetely difficult to try and visualize what you are talking about. There's no way that you could film yourself and then post eh?

Many swimmers favor a side. Drill work ends up becoming important in this respect. Drill work will educate your body to less favor one side over the other. If you go on USA swimming's website you can access some drills for the freestyle.

I'm very visual so I need to see to correct...

sorry that I can't be of more help.

That's okay. I new once I finished typing all that ... I must be smoking crack to think I could properly put it in words. :p

I'll take a look at the drills. Thus far, I've had no formal swimming instructions so there's no telling what all I'm screwing up on. And I don't have a way right now to video or anything so I'll just keep watching videos on line and reading. I'm pretty sure my form has gotten some better if speed is anything. There are times I actually feel like I'm riding a wave. (does that make sense) Those are the times that I can fly across the water.

I was performing strictly laps for several months. This morning I incorporated some sprinting in there for the first time. Wore me out but felt like a better work out over all.

Again, welcome and thank you so much for your insights.

[Jimbo]

Originally Posted by LisaS

you could try not breathing on each and every stroke and see if your stroke evens itself out - just keep your head down and pull.

That does help. Do you think I should try learning to breath on the opposite side too though?