Swimming Freestyle - The Fastest Way to Perfect Swimming Technique
- By Brenton Ford
- Published 08/31/2009
- Sports
The old coaching methods taught us that to swim faster we
must train harder and train more often. The reality is that
the best swimmers in the world focus on swimming with
correct technique more than anything else. Champion
swimmers don't aim to thrash out the maximum laps per
session. They focus on reducing drag each and every stroke.
Improvement comes from reducing drag more than increasing
fitness.
Here is a list of four tips to help you swim like an
Olympian:
Train to perfect technique, not to get fit: Everyone must
start out by first getting technique right, and then
progressing on to improving fitness. If you're focus isn't
on swimming with correct technique from the beginning, any
training you do will not help you for the long-term.
Find a coach or mentor: An unwritten law of swimming is
'whatever it feels like you're doing in the water, you're
probably doing the exact opposite'. The get better quickly
at swimming the easiest way is to have a qualified coach or
a knowledgable swimmer give you feedback on your technique.
You can either find a coach in your local area or find a
coach online. There are many coaches who allow you send a
video of yourself over the internet and they will email you
back with advice.
Educate yourself: Just like a doctor studies medicine to
become a good doctor, to become good at swimming you must
study it also. It is much cheaper than a college education
though! Read the books, watch the DVD's and buy the
programs which will show you the correct technique and how
to achieve it.
Find a training partner: Training with others adds to the
enjoyment of swimming. It also increase how hard you train
and how far you swim because time will go by much quicker.
It has been proven that running with another person
increases your pace by 18% compared to when you run alone.
I'm sure it is no different when in the pool. Find someone
who is faster and fitter than you, as this will help you
rise to their level rather than take the easy road.
Never quit: Swimming fast takes time. It won't happen in a
day, a week or even a month. Persist with your swimming and
be consistent with your practice. Don't train for 3 days in
a row and then take a week off and expect for results to
show. You must be consistent and focus always getting
better through practicing the right technique.
must train harder and train more often. The reality is that
the best swimmers in the world focus on swimming with
correct technique more than anything else. Champion
swimmers don't aim to thrash out the maximum laps per
session. They focus on reducing drag each and every stroke.
Improvement comes from reducing drag more than increasing
fitness.
Here is a list of four tips to help you swim like an
Olympian:
Train to perfect technique, not to get fit: Everyone must
start out by first getting technique right, and then
progressing on to improving fitness. If you're focus isn't
on swimming with correct technique from the beginning, any
training you do will not help you for the long-term.
Find a coach or mentor: An unwritten law of swimming is
'whatever it feels like you're doing in the water, you're
probably doing the exact opposite'. The get better quickly
at swimming the easiest way is to have a qualified coach or
a knowledgable swimmer give you feedback on your technique.
You can either find a coach in your local area or find a
coach online. There are many coaches who allow you send a
video of yourself over the internet and they will email you
back with advice.
Educate yourself: Just like a doctor studies medicine to
become a good doctor, to become good at swimming you must
study it also. It is much cheaper than a college education
though! Read the books, watch the DVD's and buy the
programs which will show you the correct technique and how
to achieve it.
Find a training partner: Training with others adds to the
enjoyment of swimming. It also increase how hard you train
and how far you swim because time will go by much quicker.
It has been proven that running with another person
increases your pace by 18% compared to when you run alone.
I'm sure it is no different when in the pool. Find someone
who is faster and fitter than you, as this will help you
rise to their level rather than take the easy road.
Never quit: Swimming fast takes time. It won't happen in a
day, a week or even a month. Persist with your swimming and
be consistent with your practice. Don't train for 3 days in
a row and then take a week off and expect for results to
show. You must be consistent and focus always getting
better through practicing the right technique.