Wading Swimming
How does one maintain balance while moving hand(wading) thru the water in freestyle swimming?
I am an adult learning freestyle swimming. I tilt(lose balance) to one side when my hand wades thru the water. What am I doing wrong ?
The answer from Ashley was basically very good. I’d like to expand on her suggestions.
Ashley’s statement that you do not swim flat on your chest is accurate. When I coach, I emphasize a rolling action that originates from the hips. Ashley’s suggestion to use hand paddles to improve stroke is also good. However, the way you use the paddles is very important.
While using paddles, the kids I coach are told to use a finger strap on the paddle that goes over the middle finger only. Wrist straps are not used. They are also told to keep their thumbs and little fingers flat on the paddle and to NOT hold the paddle by curling their thumb or little finger around the side … all fingers flat on the paddle and no wrist strap.
The purpose of this technique is to force the swimmer to keep pressure on the paddle which presses the paddle onto the hand and to keep their elbows slightly bent and facing upwards while doing their underwater pull. If you let your elbows sag and you pull with your elbow, the water will pull the paddle off of your hand. So, you get immediate feedback about your stroke from the paddle.
When you put your hand in the water, your fingertips should enter the water slightly before your hand which enters slightly before your elbow … your are is very slightly curved. I tell my kids that they should imagine that they are lying over a wine barrel.
As was stated earlier … roll on your side as your hand enters the water … follow the hand paddle instruction and create a large letter “S” as you roll (or reverse “S” depending on which arm you’re using).
Exhale as you press on the water and roll your head with your body to inhale when your hand (the side on which you prefer to breathe) is near your hip.
Here is a weird thought … Keep in mind that as you swim, you hand anchors in the water and your body moves over your hand. If that were not true, then you’d go nowhere.
It is likely that these suggestions will, to a degree, take care of your imbalance. However, balance in the water is critical. One more very simple drill my kids do is to float in streamline position (chin tight on your chest, hands stacked on top of each other, biceps squeezing your head BEHIND your ears, knees locked and toes pointed). Although you’ll have a tendency to roll around, keep working at this and after a few minutes, you’ll learn to stay on your front side … it just takes time.
Good luck!
Elvis prepares to swim by wading clip 2
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