General Discussion Triathlon Talk » Swimming -Drill vs duration Rss Feed  
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2006-12-26 2:58 PM

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Orlando
Subject: Swimming -Drill vs duration
Anyone have any input on the benfit of drills as uposed to just swimming? I do not have a problem getting in the pool and swimming for time, ie 60 minutes, 2000m


2006-12-26 3:35 PM
in reply to: #633446

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Subject: RE: Swimming -Drill vs duration

Do you mean "drills" or "intervals"?

Drills are usually technique drills, i.e. finger drag, catch up, etc.

Intervals are sets of shorter swims, i.e. 10 x 100 on 1:30

If you mean drills, they are beneficial, but usually don't make up more than 10% of my overall yardage.

If you mean intervals, then 99% of my pool swimming is intervals.  While you may not have a problem doing one long swim every time, you are not getting much benefit from it, other than the fact that you can swim for that distance or time.

Most (all?) swimmers will tell you that the way to become a better swimmer is to incorporate interval training into your swims.

2006-12-26 4:37 PM
in reply to: #633446

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Mesa
Subject: RE: Swimming -Drill vs duration
It is all relative to your stroke.

If it is good - go for duration (intervals, etc.)

If it is bad - do drills and improve your form.

If you do not have a good swim stroke and you swim for duration you are just practicing a bad stroke. You will get some aerobic benefits, but you may not get any faster at swimming.

If you do drills properly your form should be better and then you will swim more efficiently and most often with more speed.
2006-12-26 6:45 PM
in reply to: #633446

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Subject: RE: Swimming -Drill vs duration
I think Terry Laughlin said it best... "fitness is what happens as you practice good technique." I feel I am a very proficient swimmer, but I still do about 800m or so of drills every practice. (during a 2500m workout)
2006-12-26 9:35 PM
in reply to: #633446

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Champion
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Subject: RE: Swimming -Drill vs duration

My swim coach at our final lesson made this point...he teaches and attends masters classes over the last 20 years and he observes that the best swimmers drill the most and how strange that is as they swim fast and obviously their technique is pretty good. He notes that the slower swimmers drill the least.

I now drill 10-15 minutes every swim workout and I'm a 2:00/100 swimmer. I can really tell some drills are making a difference in my balance and breathing.

2006-12-27 7:31 PM
in reply to: #633446

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Subject: RE: Swimming -Drill vs duration
Those of you who are into drills, what do you recommend as the best ones? I've just recently started learning some technique (didn't even own goggles til a few months ago!) and am looking for some suggestions to improve!

Thanks in advance!


2006-12-27 7:37 PM
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2006-12-27 7:52 PM
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Subject: RE: Swimming -Drill vs duration
KathyG - 2006-12-26 9:35 PM

My swim coach at our final lesson made this point...he teaches and attends masters classes over the last 20 years and he observes that the best swimmers drill the most and how strange that is as they swim fast and obviously their technique is pretty good. He notes that the slower swimmers drill the least.

I now drill 10-15 minutes every swim workout and I'm a 2:00/100 swimmer. I can really tell some drills are making a difference in my balance and breathing.

IMO that's the best way to improve! (Of course, only after getting your swim analyzed and learn what drills will improve YOUR swim technique)

I do the same EVERY session. (And I schedule the same to the people I help)  I warm up with drills and then do my main sets. I even add some in the middle when doing some speed intervals as I notice that my form is breaking down. By doing this I get to develop a better 'feel'.

There aren’t specific drills which will benefit a swimmer the most. Drills are suppose to help with the different phases of the stroke, balance, kick, etc. but which ones can help the most will greatly depend on your technique flaws.

I know TI is great to make beginners comfortable in the water but after practicing exclusively drills, still you then have to re-learn how to “swim” and that IMO is just a waste of time. I think it is much better to get an experienced coach analyze your swim, recommend what drills to work on and alternate drills with swimming every session

2006-12-28 8:44 AM
in reply to: #634720

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Subject: RE: Swimming -Drill vs duration


I would buy Terry Laughlin's book on total immersion swimming as he has numerous excellent balance drills.

Fred


ditto Fred - it's hard to explain drills properly on the computer. Terry does a great job job of explaining and provides illustrations.
2006-12-28 9:01 AM
in reply to: #633446

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Subject: RE: Swimming -Drill vs duration
I do drills everytime I get in the pool - as swimming is so technique oriented it is crucial that you remind yourself of proper form everytime you swim and drills are an excellent way to do that. I will typically do 500-1000m of drills in a 2400-3200m workout so I'm usually between 25-40% of my swimming as drill work.

IMO, one of the best things you can do is have your stroke analyzed and learn some key drills at the same time - you can read about and see all the drills in the world, but unless you know exactly what you should be doing to correct your form and what you should be focusing on in the drill, simply throwing in a variety of drills may be a waste of time.

Shane
2006-12-28 9:53 AM
in reply to: #633446

Pro
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Subject: RE: Swimming -Drill vs duration

We have an outstanding swim coach on our staff. She is one of the top Elite athletes in the area and has been coaching swimming for 15 years. In a seminar earlier this year she was discussing this very topic. She explained that new/beginning swimmers shouldn't do anything but drill at first. The thinking is that you need to develop good technique prior to developing endurance. Drill until your form starts to break and then get out of the pool and go home.

For the more experience swimmer, as mentioned in many previous posts, incorporate drills into your workouts and then swim afterward to get the immediate feed back. Every swimmer from Micheal Phelps down to you and me need to drill to improve economy and muscle memory.



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