This week at swimgym FEEL FOR THE WATER

The better your so called 'feel for the water', the more efficient you can swim. Knowing how to move your arms is one thing, but knowing when, where and how you can find the pressure of the water for more propulsion can elevate your freestyle to the next level. It sounds difficult, but the drills to improve this are not to hard, so let's get to it!

Swimming is the only sport in which the face is in the water, meaning technique is needed to position yourself to breathe. The moments you can breathe are therefore limited. This complicates swimming especially when you are new to it. Breathing interrupts your bod...

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Skills & drills Combination Scull

By doing this drill you will increase your feel for the water. The combination scull is a follow up drill after you learn how to scull in different positions. You start with the front scull, then move towards mid scull and end with back scull. Use a pullbuoy and snorkel.

How to do it 


  • Start in the front scull position with your hands shoulder-width in front of you, fingertips pointed slightly towards the bottom

  • In ten repetitions you move gradually to mid scull and the to the back scull position

  • After the final scull movement, push the water backwards and bring your hands back to the front

  • Repeat this movement until you reach the wall.

Focus points 


  • Maintain a steady tempo in your sculling movements to create enough propulsion

  • Fingertips pointed towards the bottom throughout the combination.

  • Focus on your hand position, there should be tension on your wrists

Coach tip

This drill requires some practice, but eventually you should understand what we mean with ‘feel for the water’. Only practice this drill when you have mastered the single scull positions. You will feel an increased propulsion in your stroke. 

Equipment:

snorkel, pull buoy

COACH TIP

The use of paddles should never compromise your stroke length. If you have trouble finishing your strokes at the push out, choose a smaller paddle or swim round 2 and 4 without paddles to build strength wisely.

More coach tips?

coach tips

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