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Swimming hack question regarding stroke........HELP

CarlCarl
in General Training Discussions

 Today was fun cause my swim coach watched the entire time.

Well my right elbow is no longer dropping and my catch looks good.

 I am now over compensating on the left and when my left hand enters my wrist is flext upward vs relaxed therefore I'm pushing water when my left hand/ arm enters then starting my catch as soon as I can see my hand.  Well a few steps forward. I'm getting there. 

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Workout included:

  • WU: 200 and 200 pull
  • MS: 3x400 then 100 easy then 10x100 3-5 sec faster then T pace with 20 sec test in between.
  • CD: 200



I have been working now for several weeks on my stroke correction only and recently started adding distance and sprints.

For our swim coaches and guru's what exactly can I concentrate on regarding the left hand.  I try and keep it relaxed but not sure what is going on.  The fingers up drill messed me up LOL .

Please and Thanks!!!

Comments

  • kurshingkurshing
    Why don't you just lift your head a little and actually watch your hand for a few strokes, get the feel for te correct hand position, put your head down and finish the lap. Using the visual reference should help.

    Not sure what else to do other than 'focus' your mind on it while you swim.
  • jhbinscjhbinsc

    Quit helping Carl until at least March next year. He is cheating by swimming while I'm at home asleep!

  • Paul HoughPaul Hough
    Visualize your middle finger entering the water first. You are aiming your hand with your middle finger pointing towards the entry point then driving in and forward as you rotate your hips to that side. At no point in the entry or stroke should the hand arch up and act as a brake (or cross over). As you reach the stroke extension, visualize pointing the middle finger straight down (leading the hand) to engage your catch.
  • tuckermtuckerm
    Carl, I heard you had your stroke down perfect!
  • Jump4Joy19Jump4Joy19

    For hands pointing upwards during the entry/catch phase of the stroke, there's several things you can do to help:

    1)  Watch some videos of great swimming technique so you can visualize what you want your hand to be doing

    2) Get in the shallow end of the pool and walk along while making the motions of the hand entry/catch/stroke with each arm. This allows you to watch what you are doing and match it up to the perfect technique you have visualized by doing step #1

    3) After you feel like you have the correct hand entry, glide, and catch while walking, swim one-arm only and work on just that left hand

    4) When the one-arm starts to feel like you're getting it, proceed to doing the Catch-up drill, using it to focus on hand entry, and catch

    5) When you've got the hand corrected in the one-arm and catch-up drills, swim a length of your regular stroke and try to hold the good form. Swim only as long as you can hold good form in the hand entry and catch. When form starts to dissolve, go back to step three and repeat. If you really need to see it again to work on it, go back to step 2.

     

    I've also had success using the closed-fist drill and having a swimmer feel like they are "punching" the water with their hand entry. This is to create a more aggressive hand entry with fingers, hand, arm angling downward instead of drifting back up toward the surface.

    Hope that helps!

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