What's the best way to improve the arm sweep on the non-dominant side?
Like most people I'm right handed. Grew up playing baseball, so my right arm is strong, supple, and
whip like. Perfect for swimming.
My left arm is a different story. Not much strength from an old shoulder injury, and very little
coordination and kinestetic awareness.
If I could pull with my left arm as well as my right, I'd be a decent swimmer. Since I can't, I
rotate almost completely to my left side and do a straight arm catch like Tom Dolan. But I'm not as
strong as Dolan - using that style is like "pole vaulting" over your left arm every cycle, which
doesn't take much coordination but it does take a lot of strength.
I'm doing some weight lifting which helps some. I remember Coach Freiderang said Mark Spitz used to
throw a javelin and a shot put with his left arm to improve strength and coordination. At the time I
laughed, but now I think it's not such a bad idea. But I don't own any track and field equipment.
And who has time to be throwing a javelin around?
Maybe it's as simple as just doing left armed pulls up and down the pool with a swim buoy between
the legs and maybe one under the right arm.
Eric