Swimming???Help!
14
Member
1427 days
dax posted 3 years ago.
The Total Immersion book and DVD have been lifesavers for me (totalimmersion.net). You can do the drills from the book by yourself or find a local swim coach to monitor your progress. Your local Y probably has a 25 yard lap pool.
Dax
14
Member
1427 days
dax posted 3 years ago.
Here is a direct link to the book - http://www.totalimmersion.net/tsme.html. It also comes bundled with a DVD that demonstrates what all the drills should look like.
Dax
6
Member
1434 days
kanoelani posted 3 years ago.
I suggest getting into a local masters swim program. I started about a month ago and I am ALOT faster than I was before. The main thing is getting the technique down. My first tri season was last year and I tried to learn proper swimming technique from a book. It helped, but I feel like I could have cut quite a bit of time off of my swim if I had joined in the beginning. TI didn't want to because I felt I wasn't good enough yet to join something called masters anything, but when I started going I realized there were really all different levels. From people who swam Division 1 in College to people just starting out. And a coach can correct what you are doing wrong. They see things that you don't even know you are doing.
In my case its free because of the gym I workout at, but Ive looked on line and the pricing isn't bad. Check the USMasters swim sight or for swim programs in your area. I know in Dallas there is a program called DAM and they swim at various times during the day all over the city, there might be a program like it in your city.
Also let the coach know your goals he can tailor workouts to fit what you are trying to achieve.
Ive heard total immersion is good, but I only know from my own experience that having a proper swim coach watch me while I swim has really taken my swimming to a new level.
71
Member
807 days
usasportstrain posted 1 year ago.
Aside from finding a Total Immersion or Swim Smooth coach, I'd say joining a Master's Swim group is a great way to go. Many different levels of friendly swimmers. They both have DVD's and such to view as well.
Take a look at www.usms.org to find a local group. The folks on the forum tend to be very helpful too.
http://www.usasportstraining.com - Triathlon Training Gear, DVDs, Books
1769
Member
1406 days
brittda posted 1 year ago.
My husband has been doing TI and it has helped a LOT. He is now signed up for one of their weekend courses next month to "fine tune" his stroke. There is a list of classes out on their website.
1012
Member
1203 days
PJT posted 1 year ago.
I went the TI book & DVD route as well. I thought the methods they use did a very good job of helping me pay attention to good body position and get a relaxed, easy stroke that was somewhat faster than my previous efforts. (Consistency in the water might have had something to do with that too). Personally, I think it's a very good place to start.
634
Member
732 days
Ironmom posted 1 year ago.
I'll second the recommendation to find a Masters group to swim with. Ours has many different levels of swimmers and the coaches do a good job of helping people with technique who want and need it.
I'm of mixed-mind on the Total Immersion approach. I think it's a reasonably good foundation, and if you have no coaching available it's a good place to start. If you can get your hands on a real live coach though, I think it's usually more helpful.
Blue Skies, -Robin-
http://ironmom.blogspot.com/
1127
Member
985 days
UFTriGator posted 1 year ago.
Learning from a DVD is better than nothing, but because they are mass-produced to fit everyone, they won't get at exactly what you need to be swimming up to your potential. If you can find a good coach, that would be the best route. He should be able to analyze your specific needs and help you with drills that match them. Plus, swimming with other people at Masters will push you to go faster, which is a huge part of swimming that people forget to do. They get so caught up in technique (which is very necessary still) that they forget to swim hard and never get faster.
______________________________________________
-Matt
Not fast enough.
5
Member
691 days
TriMorgan posted 1 year ago.
From what you're saying, it sounds like you're committed to your local Y. If they don't have a masters club, or if you can't make their practices, talk to the lifeguards or program coordinator at the Y. Private swim lessons are usually offered, which could be a good option if you want a lot of one on one attention. They can help get you familiar with different drills and equipment, help design some basic workouts to do on your own, and give you personalized feedback.There may even be an ex-varsity swimmer or maybe even a triathlete on the guard staff!
I have to admit that I'm not familiar with Total Immersion, but if you missed that critical time between the ages of 8 and 14 to develop a 'natural' swimming stroke, you need someone there telling you what YOU need to be working on. I think a video may be overwhelming, and give you too many things to think about. For example, some people have a great stroke but really need to work on their kick. Why would they waste precious pool time perfecting an 's' pull, when what they really need is to work with a pair of flippers?
The last time I got into the pool to swim laps was when I was 5 and first learning how to swim. I'm now 22 and don't know much about it. Like how long is the pool at a YMCA? 25 meters? How many strokes should you take? And what about breathing? I need help! And I checked out the classes at the Y and they didn't have any swimming classes, just aqua aerboics, that sorta thing. If anyone could help me out, I'd appreciate it! Thanks ya'll.
]Face your fears and live your dreams,
Take it all in,
Yes, every chance you get.”
- Jon Blais ALS Ironman 2005