Hold on to your hats folks – another swimming post by Carol. I was at the pool doing my workout, which today I got from Gale Bernhardt’s book, “Swim workouts in a Binder”. I did E(Speed) #2. While I was swimming, I was thinking more about my balance issue caused by setting up my catch too soon. I talked about that in my last swimming post.
Today I noticed that the reason I lose balance – and thus am tempted to start my catch early – is that my recovery arm (the one that is going over the water) is also doing it’s thing too soon. In other words, while one arm is extended and I am breathing, the other arm is already up in the air at about the half way point. I think it should still be at my hip at this point. But I’m not sure.
So I experimented with keeping that arm in the water longer and giving the water an extra little push past my hip with that hand (maybe that’s called follow through). That seemed to help. Later today, I came back to my blog and watched the Michael Phelps youtube video to see how he does it. I want to see just where is the left arm when the right arm is fully extended? Trouble is, he swims too damn fast, so I cannot see it in that video. Sheesh, I wish I had that problem!
I went searching Youtube for a slow motion swim video so I could study this more. Didn’t find one, but I did find another great swim video. Fun to watch, if nothing else! The main point of this post is just to give you and idea of what I go thru with swimming. I am constantly doing this sort of self-analysis of my technique. I think it helps me get at least more efficient. Maybe a bit faster, little by little, in tiny increments. Kaizen.
[youtube:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SBxlphJBIcM]
My understanding is that you want your recovery arm to come as far forward as possible before beginning your pull, i.e. allowing it to nearly catch up with your lead arm. Supposedly this helps balance, helps minimize frontal resistance, and delays your pull until your hips can help. Good luck!
Jerry – I like that music!!!!
if phelps swims too fast check out this guy (might wanna mute bad music tho): http://bit.ly/h9suI
I do the exact same thing you are talking about on my breathing side. Your posts have been super helpful in explaining good solutions for the problem…now if I can just get my body to do what my head is telling it!!!
Great information…
I can help you with that. But you live too far away.