How to Develop your Freestyle Technique

 

Freestyle is the fastest and most efficient of all strokes. Freestyle swimming is cyclical, meaning all movements are continuous.  An efficient swimmer, will  transition from one movement to another smoothly,  an inefficient swimmer’s movements are not pieced together, and are jerky separate movements.

In swimming Freestyle we are striving for flow, with good timing of the legs arms, while holding good posture or balance in the water.

Set your Rhythm

You can establish rhythm in your stroke by using body roll as a clock setter. A simple regular rhythm can serve as a foundation to your arm and leg action.

Be sure to set your rotation around the long axis, think long long like an arrow!

What can throw off your rhythm?

• Rolling more to one side, strive to roll evenly to both sides
• One stroke contributing more than the other, strive for an even pull on both sides
• Head and upper body twisting to the side, strive to rotate around the long axis, avoid lifting your head.
• Inefficient breathing, strive to keep your head in alignment with your spine to breathe. If you break your stroke, and lift your head, your stroke will be jerky, and inefficient.

Ways to improve? 

Try one or more:

• Practice, Practice, Practice
• Join our Lap Swimming Clinic. You’ll learn how to achieve better rhythm, and how to gain more out of your swimming. More information here Mastering Masters Clinic Details
• Join our Masters Workouts. You will improve, swim faster, get a better workout and have more fun, than swimming on your own.
• Schedule a private lesson. We all learn differently, one on one instruction, will bring out the best in your swimming.

Have fun, keep smiling, keep swimming, and you will improve!