propulsion in freestyle

Try the doggy paddle. This is a good skill to grab the water.
And when you swim, don't push too strong... swim easy and clean...

Try the doggy paddle. This is a good skill to grab the water.
And when you swim, don't push too strong... swim easy and clean...

Imagine that you are mountain climbing. You see something to grab with
your hand that you can barely reach. Extend your arm so that you can
reach it. gently push your body over your hand.

Andres

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Quoted message said:

Imagine that you are mountain climbing. You see something to grab with
your hand that you can barely reach. Extend your arm so that you can
reach it. gently push your body over your hand.

I've read this description already, but I still don't understand how
you are supposed to do it. I have the impression that you really need
an extraordinary flexibility in the shoulders, because you are trying
to bend your elbow in the direction exactly opposite to the normal one
(unless you keep you hand in the middle, and bend your arm so that your
elbow is pointing to the side, and then you end up doing Larry's
stroke). I usually begin my stroke by pushing my hand slightly down and
to the exterior, as if I was pushing something to the side, and I
really push back only when my hand is a little deeper so the position
is more comfortable.

When reaching your hand forward, keep your elbows pointing towards the
surface of the water, then bring your palm down without too much force
while keeping your elbow pointing up and near the surfaceonce you are
at about 45 degree angle between your upper arm and lower arm start to
press harder and feel the water resisting your palm and forearm.

Another drill is to swim with closed fists, focusing on getting a
propulsive feeling with mostly forearms and some with upper arms.

Let us know if any of this is working for you and what happens. Maybe
we can add more once you work on the suggestions so far.

Karen

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Quoted message said:

Let us know if any of this is working for you and what happens. Maybe
we can add more once you work on the suggestions so far.

I've tried the closed fist drill and the dog paddle today, and focusing
on doing the catch as you describe. At the beginning with closed fists
I had the impression I was going nowhere, but then it has improved. The
dog paddle was really tiring for the arms (where is my head supposed to
be in this drill by the way ? above or under the water ?). I feel that
I have been experiencing new sensations with these drills, and they
gave me ideas about different things to try to see with ones work best,
so I suppose they are going to help if I work enough with them. Thanks
everybody for your help ! I hope I can report soon an improvement !