One-side breathing, how big of a problem

I agree with the other reply.  It is nice to be able to breathe both sides so practice it to make sure you can keep doing it - in case you need it due to waves or keeping eye on buoy etc but from a practical point of view I usually breathe one side only for pretty much all my races.  It's how I'm fastest

Edited to explain buoy comment - I didn't mean sighting (that's completely different!).  Actually I sight rarely as I try and find a person swimming straight and follow feet.  However at Lake Placid they had this underwater line with occasional buoy things and I found that very useful to follow in the chaos - but it meant breathing on my non preferred side.

It's not a problem to breathe to one side...

BUT, from what you posted, it sounds like you have balance issues breathing to the other side.  This most likely means there is an issue with your stroke whether breathing to that side or not.  I would continue to work on it even if you do most of your breathing to your comfortable side.  Some alternate side breathing is probably a good idea, at least when you are not focusing on pushing the pace.

I agree with the others, not necessary to breath to both sides but for some racing conditions it can help. 

You mentioned your neck hurting when breathing to the other side, you might not be rotating your body as much to that side which is causing you to turn your neck more to get the breath.  Might be something to pay attention to and fix regardless of which side you breath on...

Thanks for all the prompt replies! Great community here!

 I am definitely not going to give up on the other side breathing. JohnnyKay and evondo bring up good points. I am definitely working on my rotation and stroke on the opposite side. As I'm sure all of you feel, time is always a premium so I didn't want to spend TONS of time on this if it's not a huge issue.

Practice it.  It's a simple thing to do and it will increase the tool in your bag come race day.  Simply breath to the same wall at the pool and you will eventually be able to breath easily to each side. 

I have a preferred side, but found it really easy to switch depending on what I needed on race day.  Increase the tool bag.

Bilateral breathing, IMO, is just a nice tool to have in the bag.

I still do 90% of my breathing on my right side.  It keeps my stroke smoother and I can get better air.

However, I have NEEDED to switch sides in a race when getting pounded by waves.  So it's still VERY good to know how (maybe like changing a tire quickly?).

All of the above stuff is good, and there is another good reason for learning to breathe bilaterally.

Comfort in the water. If you can't easily breathe to your left, and all of a sudden in a race you have to do that, you are going to be uncomfortable, fight with it, and in all likelihood, not have a great swim. If you know you can do it if need be, you won't be freaked when you do have to do it.

That actually goes for almost anything. The more you bike and try different things, the more comfortable you will be in a bike. (Pack riding the first time I almost clawed my way out of my skin I was so twitchy). If you aren't used to running in a crowd, the first time you swap elbows on the run it'll get to you.

Theres a reason kids play minnows and whales during swim team practice, and it isn't to develop lungs, it's to get comfortable in the water. (semi-drowning your teammates is just a bonus :D)

John 

I find that I swim slightly faster by breathing out of both sides.  My guess it is in-part because when I breathe left side only (I'm left handed), I tend to ease-up on my right-hand stroke in the water and pause more then I should to breathe.  But when I alternate, I get on to a rhythum and tend to swim slightly faster (talking a difference of 3 seconds or so per 100 yards).

But I confess, absent forcing myself to do it, I breathe left-side only out of fear of not getting my mouth out  of the water and swallowing water instead of taking in air.

Not a huge problem, but can become one. I only breathed to the left for the past 9 months, and started getting some serious shoulder pain on one side.  Now I breathe to one side of the pool at all times, therefore alternating which side of my body I breathe on depending on which direction I am going. Not totally sure how much the sided breathing hurt the shoulder, but it does feel better now that I switched.

Just takes practice, you'll get it!