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2013-04-07 7:58 PM

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Subject: swim video post

I'm a solid runner, crappy swimmer.  Would appreciate advice.

 

http://youtu.be/3vR5PzxW_Kw

Things that I learned: need a ton of work on my kick, elbows need to be higher, gopro makes a fantastic camera.



2013-04-07 8:18 PM
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Subject: RE: swim video post

Your rotation seems good, which is great because thats a tough thing to get down well. However your kick is far too wide. Going frame by frame from 0:26-0:30 I notice two things: that you seem to enter the water, bob your arm back up and start the pull. It's not a huge thing and would likely be fixed with like you said, high elbows (in the water). The second thing is that go through frames around 0:28-29. Both of your arms do this: forearm could be a bit more perpendicular at this point in time. Nice head position. Like previously mentioned, check out a few frames from 0:30. super wide kick.

Honestly you have decent form. You pretty much already know what you need to work on--keeping that kick real nice and tight and having higher elbows while in the water (that'll help get your forearms more perpendicular and keep your arms from bobbing). When they're above water, that's about where mine are when recovering. Just make sure while focusing on improving your kick to keep your core tight so you don't have a dislocation between your hips and shoulders rotating, causing a fish-tail. I'm sure some other people will have some input.

2013-04-07 8:27 PM
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Subject: RE: swim video post

thanks, the bobbing is new, I think.  It was recently pointed out that I need to reach more, which I really haven't implemented well.  That's me trying to extend past my old point.

2013-04-07 9:11 PM
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Subject: RE: swim video post
IMO, your hands are too far under water during your pull.  Try bending your elbow (~80-90 degrees) and pulling under your chest through to your thigh.  Will make your arm rotation quicker and easier.
2013-04-07 11:22 PM
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Subject: RE: swim video post

Oysterboy - 2013-04-07 9:11 PM IMO, your hands are too far under water during your pull.  Try bending your elbow (~80-90 degrees) and pulling under your chest through to your thigh.  Will make your arm rotation quicker and easier.

this is what I meant in a better picture. it seemed to start low raise up to the surface and drop back low before you started the pull.

2013-04-08 12:18 AM
in reply to: #4690541

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Subject: RE: swim video post
Your pointing your hands upward in your entry and glide, don't do that, it's like putting on the brakes. You can clearly see the result as it seems your body "pauses" through the water. 


2013-04-08 3:11 AM
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Subject: RE: swim video post

Ditch your board shorts. Yes, it really does make a big difference.

It actually looks pretty good, but you have a very clear scissor kick in particular to one side when breathing to the right causing lots of drag. Seems you roll the entire body, hips are locked to the shoulders, rather than rotate the upper body, and this also has something to do with your scissor kick which drive this roll.

You have a quite good long reach in your stroke, hand enters nice in front of your head. Go to 0:28 and advance frame by frame: You can see your hand first goes down then up again and actually touches the surface before you start the stroke. This going down then up causes more drag than if you could reach straight. 

BR

2013-04-08 6:59 AM
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Subject: RE: swim video post

is the goal to have the lower body perpendicular to the pool and only the upper body rotate?  I will probably prioritize smaller-straighter kick, better entry, higher elbows, but I've never really considered what does and doesn't rotate.



Edited by chris948 2013-04-08 7:01 AM
2013-04-08 8:37 AM
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Subject: RE: swim video post
Your right leg scissors out quite far when your left arm is forward.  Beyond that, I'll leave it to the swim pros.
2013-04-08 9:00 AM
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Subject: RE: swim video post
chris948 - 2013-04-08 6:59 AM

is the goal to have the lower body perpendicular to the pool and only the upper body rotate?  I will probably prioritize smaller-straighter kick, better entry, higher elbows, but I've never really considered what does and doesn't rotate.

 

Not so dramatic that the lower body doesn't rotate at all, but the upper body does rotate a bit more.  Do not underestimate the amt of core that goes into swimming.

Some of your wobble is because you are pulling too far out from the midline of your body.  Pulling on the midline will help with your stroke and probably allow you to apply more shoulder/lat strength as well.



Edited by Oysterboy 2013-04-08 9:04 AM
2013-04-08 9:56 AM
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Subject: RE: swim video post
chris948 - 2013-04-08 1:59 PM

is the goal to have the lower body perpendicular to the pool and only the upper body rotate? ... I've never really considered what does and doesn't rotate.

There will always be some rotation of the lower body, but dissociating upper and lower body allows a greater rotation in your upper body than the lower body.

It's related to the smaller straighter kick in that in your current form you use some of your kick to drive the body roll. 

BR



2013-04-08 3:49 PM
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Subject: RE: swim video post

Changing swimming technique is a difficult process, but can make huge improvements in terms of time. Looking at your stroke, I think you can focus on 2 things:

1. Narrowing your kick

2. Adjusting your pull

Right now, your kick and hips follow each other, as they must. However, because you move your hips and torso too much from side to side, you have a very wide kick. When you consider that strong swimmers are able to get in six to even eight kicks for every cycle of two strokes, you realize your side to side movement needs to be much less in order to do that. If you think about a pole running through the top of your head down to the bottom of your feet, and think about rotating along that line, you should gain a much more effective kick. Be sure your hips and shoulders rotate together. Finally, decrease the amplitude of your kick. Even though in triathlon you won't normally want to use a six or beat beat kick, if you cannot ever acheive that due to the width of your kick, there are surely inefficiencies with that part of your stroke.

On your pull, you can see as your hand enters the water you "drop your elbow." This is very common even in competitive swimming. The way I was able to break this habit was by thinking of my entire forearm and hand as one paddle. When your hand enters the water, you should be in the process of rolling to your side to attain a position of leverage over the water. Your arm will extend and straighten or almost straighten, and from there you need to make a change. Move your forearm and hand as one unit together in as close to a 90 degree angle as you can. This moves far more water than a normal stroke, and will save energy.

Overall you have impressive technique for a triathlete and with a few changes I'm sure you will become a strong swimmer. Best of luck!

2013-04-08 8:06 PM
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Subject: RE: swim video post
How did you attach your gopro to the wall of the pool? I have a GoPro and like idea of using it to critique. Sorry no swim instructions from me, it would do more harm then good.
2013-04-08 8:11 PM
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Subject: RE: swim video post

I got creative with the tripod mount and some extensions, it was basically upside down with the tripod legs lying flat on the edge.  Easier to do than to explain.

 

Thanks for all of the suggestions, I spent 45 minutes drilling today and I'll do the same tomorrow, hopefully post another video in a few weeks.

 

If anyone in Dallas can get me in their pool and wants to be taped, let me know.  It's amazing the difference between what I think I'm doing versus actually doing, and I doubt I'm the only one.

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