Swimming issues - swallowing water!!

halfpint - 2009-07-07 3:38 PM it may be residual water in your nose and once you rotate, it seeps in...

try expelling thru both nose and mouth underwater to rid the water so you have a clear breath on your rotation...

im no expert either

econway - 2009-07-07 2:37 PM Looking down forces you to lower your head position in the water, which is good for moving your center of balance forward, which in turn raises your legs in the water. Often I instruct beginning or novice swimmers to exaggerate the 'heads down' position in the water to feel how it helps bring the legs up and improves your balance in the water. I think the Total Immersion term for this is 'down hill swimming'. This can make it difficult to breath, as you've discovered, especially if your shoulders remain square as you execute your arm stroke. (By square, I mean perpindicular to your direction of motion). Make sure that as your arm recovers and you reach that your shoulders roll with the reach. As you turn to breath, toward your 'back' shoulder, there is a natural wake between your shoulder and head that helps you breath. Plus the natural roll of your body helps position your head for a breath. Make sure you exhale when your face is in the water, and inhale only when you turn to breath, this prevents you from wasting time trying to exhale/inhale as you turn your head. While not a big proponent of TI, I do know that many of the beginning drills are good for developing a feel for body position, shoulder roll, and breathing. Might be worth looking into. Note that for many swimmers as they progress in their technique often adjust head angle and look more forward, with the water cresting just above the top of your goggles. Most of the master swimmers I swim with look more forward.