swimming technique programs

flanskyfan27 said:

I am a runner who is getting into triathlons and have been swimming for
about 2 months but with no real guidance. Someone told me about a book
called Total Immersion and I was hoping to get some second opinions on
the quality of the instruction. I hate to start practicing form that
was incorrect. Thanks for your help!
--Will

I got the DVD and the triathlon based book. I never really followed
their drills, but got enough pointers (mainly from the DVD) that changed
my technique, particularly my body position in the water, to be more
efficient. I wouldn't say I am faster as a result, but I can swim a lot
further than I ever would have been able to using my old inefficient
technique, and can get out of the water feeling good. For me it was
money well spent, particularly the DVD.

jh

jh said:

flanskyfan27 said:

I am a runner who is getting into triathlons and have been swimming for
about 2 months but with no real guidance. Someone told me about a book
called Total Immersion and I was hoping to get some second opinions on
the quality of the instruction. I hate to start practicing form that
was incorrect. Thanks for your help!
--Will

I got the DVD and the triathlon based book. I never really followed
their drills, but got enough pointers (mainly from the DVD) that changed
my technique, particularly my body position in the water, to be more
efficient. I wouldn't say I am faster as a result, but I can swim a lot
further than I ever would have been able to using my old inefficient
technique, and can get out of the water feeling good. For me it was
money well spent, particularly the DVD.

jh

I have the book and I recommend it to everyone. It really explains how
to feel balanced in the water, so that your arms don't have to push you
up. It particularly made it easier for me to breathe when swimming. I
was already doing the drills with a coach, but the book carried all the
explanations behind it, and suddenly it all made sense.

Tam

I looked at it in the book store and it looked a little too scientific for
me. I had to take a second look and make sure I was not reading a math text
book.

"Tamyka Bell" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

jh said:

flanskyfan27 said:

I am a runner who is getting into triathlons and have been swimming for
about 2 months but with no real guidance. Someone told me about a book
called Total Immersion and I was hoping to get some second opinions on
the quality of the instruction. I hate to start practicing form that
was incorrect. Thanks for your help!
--Will

I got the DVD and the triathlon based book. I never really followed
their drills, but got enough pointers (mainly from the DVD) that changed
my technique, particularly my body position in the water, to be more
efficient. I wouldn't say I am faster as a result, but I can swim a lot
further than I ever would have been able to using my old inefficient
technique, and can get out of the water feeling good. For me it was
money well spent, particularly the DVD.

jh

I have the book and I recommend it to everyone. It really explains how
to feel balanced in the water, so that your arms don't have to push you
up. It particularly made it easier for me to breathe when swimming. I
was already doing the drills with a coach, but the book carried all the
explanations behind it, and suddenly it all made sense.

Tam

In article <gwyLf.498$fL3.212@fed1read01>,

Tony said:

I looked at it in the book store and it looked a little too scientific for
me. I had to take a second look and make sure I was not reading a math text
book.

You've got to be kidding me. Sure, he explains a little of the science
behind it, but not very technically, and that doesn't come into play
when he's explaining how to do it.

When I read it, I just kept thinking, "Yeah, I get it, there are
scientific reasons that it works. I understand, and I'm convinced! Now
just tell me how to swim faster!"

--Harold Buck

"Hubris always wins in the end. The Greeks taught us that."

-Homer J. Simpson

DO IT!!!!!

Harold Buck said:

In article <gwyLf.498$fL3.212@fed1read01>,

Tony said:

I looked at it in the book store and it looked a little too scientific for
me. I had to take a second look and make sure I was not reading a math text
book.

You've got to be kidding me. Sure, he explains a little of the science
behind it, but not very technically, and that doesn't come into play
when he's explaining how to do it.

When I read it, I just kept thinking, "Yeah, I get it, there are
scientific reasons that it works. I understand, and I'm convinced! Now
just tell me how to swim faster!"

--Harold Buck

"Hubris always wins in the end. The Greeks taught us that."

-Homer J. Simpson

I actually can't remember seeing a single equation in there...

Tam

I just returned from the Seattle Total Immersion camp a couple weeks ago and
it was LIFE-CHANGING. Ironman Canada this year might not be as bad as I
originally expected 😉

If you can at least read the book and practice what it teaches, you WILL
become a better swimmer. If you can get to a camp - I highly recommend it!

Tavis
www.gymskinz.com
High / Low / No Performance Apparel with Attitude!

"flanskyfan27" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I am a runner who is getting into triathlons and have been swimming for
about 2 months but with no real guidance. Someone told me about a book
called Total Immersion and I was hoping to get some second opinions on
the quality of the instruction. I hate to start practicing form that
was incorrect. Thanks for your help!
--Will

Tamyka Bell said:

Harold Buck said:

In article <gwyLf.498$fL3.212@fed1read01>,

Tony said:

I looked at it in the book store and it looked a little too scientific for
me. I had to take a second look and make sure I was not reading a math text
book.

You've got to be kidding me. Sure, he explains a little of the science
behind it, but not very technically, and that doesn't come into play
when he's explaining how to do it.

When I read it, I just kept thinking, "Yeah, I get it, there are
scientific reasons that it works. I understand, and I'm convinced! Now
just tell me how to swim faster!"

--Harold Buck

"Hubris always wins in the end. The Greeks taught us that."

-Homer J. Simpson

I actually can't remember seeing a single equation in there...

I've got the book in front of me. There is one paragraph in Chapter 2
where he says V = SL x SR. (V=Velocity, SL=stroke length, SR=stroke rate).

Doesn't intimidate _me_ but then 6th grade math never did.

Tim Lines said:

Tamyka Bell said:

Harold Buck said:

In article <gwyLf.498$fL3.212@fed1read01>,
"Tony" <[email hidden]> wrote:

>I looked at it in the book store and it looked a little too scientific for
>me. I had to take a second look and make sure I was not reading a math text
>book.

You've got to be kidding me. Sure, he explains a little of the science
behind it, but not very technically, and that doesn't come into play
when he's explaining how to do it.

When I read it, I just kept thinking, "Yeah, I get it, there are
scientific reasons that it works. I understand, and I'm convinced! Now
just tell me how to swim faster!"

--Harold Buck

"Hubris always wins in the end. The Greeks taught us that."

-Homer J. Simpson

I actually can't remember seeing a single equation in there...

I've got the book in front of me. There is one paragraph in Chapter 2
where he says V = SL x SR. (V=Velocity, SL=stroke length, SR=stroke rate).

Doesn't intimidate _me_ but then 6th grade math never did.

Maybe they could change it to apples and oranges, to make it more
acceptable to a wider audience? ;-)

Tam

Couldn't be any easier to follow this book. Even being an "advanced"
swimmer I've tweaked my stroke quite a bit using this book (bought the
DVD too but didn't find it that helpful, they refunded me no problem).
Definitely worth the few bucks, wish I'd had this when I started
swimming years ago! Key is, you actually have to do what it says and
practice it often to get any benefit, duh!

Ok, ok, ok,

I broke down and bought the book tonight. I hope it is as good as you guys
say.

<[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Couldn't be any easier to follow this book. Even being an "advanced"
swimmer I've tweaked my stroke quite a bit using this book (bought the
DVD too but didn't find it that helpful, they refunded me no problem).
Definitely worth the few bucks, wish I'd had this when I started
swimming years ago! Key is, you actually have to do what it says and
practice it often to get any benefit, duh!

In article <0B6Pf.4817$p43.240@fed1read05>,

Tony said:

Ok, ok, ok,

I broke down and bought the book tonight. I hope it is as good as you guys
say.

Ha ha! We suckered another one into buying it!

Just kidding; it's good.

--Harold Buck

"Hubris always wins in the end. The Greeks taught us that."

-Homer J. Simpson

Harold Buck said:

In article <0B6Pf.4817$p43.240@fed1read05>,

Tony said:

Ok, ok, ok,

I broke down and bought the book tonight. I hope it is as good as you guys
say.

Ha ha! We suckered another one into buying it!

Just kidding; it's good.

I just bought the triathlon book and dvd. They are more helpful then the
first Total Immersion book that I read only parts of.

I was able to get all the drills down very easily, except the last
drill where I start to swim with real strokes. I also sink a lot when I
do the zipper drill. I like the "zen" method of the triathlon book.

I will have to try those two drills out again. *crosses fingers*.

The methods given in the tri book and dvd are a bit different (it is
nice to compare the two), but really simple, fun, and interesting feeling.

Something to consider -- I learned TI to correct my technique and
develop "front-quadrant" timing for my stroke. As I've been
progressing, I have learned to shorten the time between the completion
of the pull to the recovery and re-entry. TI teaches a longer delay
between the completion of the pull to the recovery but this can slow the
stroke speeed.

Some of the other coaches that I have met have encouraged a faster
recovery but same front-quadrant approach which helps in the turnover
for the stroke rate.

All in all, I have found TI to be very successful in improving my
swimming technique (and continues to be a part of my regiment)... for my
long distance swimming, it has improved my times to the order of 20
seconds/100 yards since last year.

"Triathlete" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:w6mPf.118706$sa3.92412@pd7tw1no:

Quoted message said:

Harold Buck said:

In article <0B6Pf.4817$p43.240@fed1read05>,
"Tony" <[email hidden]> wrote:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Ok, ok, ok,

I broke down and bought the book tonight. I hope it is as good as you guys
say.

Quoted message said:

Ha ha! We suckered another one into buying it!

Just kidding; it's good.

I just bought the triathlon book and dvd. They are more helpful then the
first Total Immersion book that I read only parts of.

I was able to get all the drills down very easily, except the last
drill where I start to swim with real strokes. I also sink a lot when I
do the zipper drill. I like the "zen" method of the triathlon book.

I will have to try those two drills out again. *crosses fingers*.

The methods given in the tri book and dvd are a bit different (it is
nice to compare the two), but really simple, fun, and interesting feeling.

Bryan Woodruff said:

Something to consider -- I learned TI to correct my technique and
develop "front-quadrant" timing for my stroke. As I've been
progressing, I have learned to shorten the time between the completion
of the pull to the recovery and re-entry. TI teaches a longer delay
between the completion of the pull to the recovery but this can slow the
stroke speeed.

Some of the other coaches that I have met have encouraged a faster
recovery but same front-quadrant approach which helps in the turnover
for the stroke rate.

All in all, I have found TI to be very successful in improving my
swimming technique (and continues to be a part of my regiment)... for my
long distance swimming, it has improved my times to the order of 20
seconds/100 yards since last year.

That's pretty good. I haven't timed myself for a while, but I had slowed
down since last year, the last that I checked.

TI does teach a longer delay, so that the stroke is effortless. Does
this make the swim much slower unless you speed up your stroke speed?

Bryan Woodruff said:

All in all, I have found TI to be very successful in improving my
swimming technique (and continues to be a part of my regiment)... for my
long distance swimming, it has improved my times to the order of 20
seconds/100 yards since last year.

I tried the full technique in the long pool today. I have never had such
an "effortless" swim turn out to be so exhausting.

Ah! It doesn't come for free in the beginning -- muscle memory needs to
be built. I would never call it "effortless" but "less effort".

--
Bryan Woodruff
Redmond, WA

"Triathlete" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:4GaSf.147444$sa3.49728@pd7tw1no:

Quoted message said:

Bryan Woodruff said:

All in all, I have found TI to be very successful in improving my
swimming technique (and continues to be a part of my regiment)... for my
long distance swimming, it has improved my times to the order of 20
seconds/100 yards since last year.

I tried the full technique in the long pool today. I have never had such
an "effortless" swim turn out to be so exhausting.