Leg Drag/Too Low in the Water
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beads1985 posted 2 years ago.
Look for geochuck posts he knows lots about swimming.
To keep your feet up make sure your toes are pointed and keep your face in the water.
I usually have my chin just about touching my chest and my but is just at the top of the water.
Something you have to practice of course
''Nothing to it, but to do it''
http://beads1985.trifuel.net/
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bluebirdbiker posted 2 years ago.
....kick!
BBB
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There are no excuses - so don't look for them. As a product of your own choices, you directly determine your life outcomes.
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Dkidd posted 2 years ago.
swim downhill...
geochuck can explain further with detail....right geo?
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RV posted 2 years ago.
Ya Geochuck has good advice - think his site is swimdownhill.com.
Best piece is to keep the head down - as the head comes up, down go the hips and legs.
There are lots of drills out there - and on this site to help with the proper form.
RV
It takes a long time to get good. - Scott Molina
Slow is smooth; smooth is fast. - Rich Strauss
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beads1985 posted 2 years ago.
Hey BBB-
What is this 'kick' thing you speak about?? :D
''Nothing to it, but to do it''
http://beads1985.trifuel.net/
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bluebirdbiker posted 2 years ago.
...use toes VERY fast. up and down repeat....I thought we all do it!
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There are no excuses - so don't look for them. As a product of your own choices, you directly determine your life outcomes.
Don't think, just do.
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beads1985 posted 2 years ago.
bluebirdbiker wrote:
...use toes VERY fast. up and down repeat....I thought we all do it!
BBB
I thought that was running?? :D
I actually kick very little. Only a little when I rotate my body.
''Nothing to it, but to do it''
http://beads1985.trifuel.net/
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jsoder posted 2 years ago.
While you "lean" on your chest, be careful about not putting your head too far down in the water. This will cause you to push too much water, which translates into more drag and resistance. I was recently part of an open-water swim clinic, and the instructor, who was in the kayak, told me that other swimmers must love me. I was creating a wake the way an ocean going oil tanker would. All because my head was too low. I have since then lifted it to about 45 degrees and watched my lap times improve. It made a big difference. It was a little bit of a mental adjustement to lean on my chest while at the same time lifting my chin becuase they are in opposition to each other.
Another bad habit unlearned.
Jeremy
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bluebirdbiker posted 2 years ago.
Ok, beads. I was joking. To put it into perspective. Using a light flutterkick helps to raise the legs. The kicking motion counterbalances vertical forces during arm actions. A two-beat kick is best, variation are ok too. The movement of the legs allows for a better body position in the setup phase of the stroke and therefore a more efficient action.
BBB
BBB
There are no excuses - so don't look for them. As a product of your own choices, you directly determine your life outcomes.
Don't think, just do.
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beads1985 posted 2 years ago.
bluebirdbiker wrote:
Ok, beads. I was joking. BBB
You were joking??? Really???
''Nothing to it, but to do it''
http://beads1985.trifuel.net/
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geochuck posted 2 years ago.
Do a little front loading the legs will come up.
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geochuck posted 2 years ago.
To get the legs up, extend those arms in front let them hang out front for a moment to cause a little front loading. As the arms recover make sure the head is low and your shoulder touches your ear, keep the elbows high the hand close to the water, make sure the shoulders roll. When the hand gets to the catch the other hand is just entering the water out front. The arms are both in the front quadrant, once the hand is at the catch max it to the finish point as low on your thigh as possible with the spine straight, make sure the elbows raise and the hands are not dragging through the water. The finish is probably the most important thing you can do to get those legs to the surface.
Don't wiggle your toes to much as BBB says!!!!
.jpg "CAcyclingFAN's picture")
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CAcyclingFAN posted 2 years ago.
I think Total Immersion's drills on 'pressing your buoy (your chest)' are pretty good at teaching you balance in the water.
When it's time to die, let us not discover that we have never lived. - Thoreau
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geochuck posted 2 years ago.
These are some drills posted before a combo of TI etc http://www.trifuel.com/forums/showthread.php?p=21112#post21112
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geochuck posted 2 years ago.
If you swim like this your legs will be no problem http://www.swimmingcyclingrunning.com/Videos/HackettBrilliant.mpeg
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David posted 2 years ago.
Hi,
I agree with everything said. So what else ?
I've seen a LOT of EXCELLENT swimmers. Not one swam like the next one. My first point is that your head position is your own.
So play with it (your head I said) :
a -Do 10 strokes or a lap with your chin very close to your chest, see how it feels (your body balance)
b - Do 10 strokes or a lap with your head look straight at the bottom of the pool. Again see how it feels
c - Do 10 strokes or a lap with your head looking a little forward (45 degree angle) - feeling ?
d - Do 10 strokes or a lap with your head looking at the pool end (almost 90 degree - ouch!).
You can even swim with your head out of the water : called water polo. (good drill)
Then go back to the best feeling / balance you had. Usually it's "b" or "c"....
Second point
Brick legs remove you must !
If you're not aquatic, you can still improve your kick, or leg flow (some mentioned the toes).
Be like a dancer and point those feet ! Pointed, and even a little inward. On dry land sit on your ankles :rolleyes:
Here are some drills to get the feeling :
- use small fins. Beware if you use a kickboard : it's not a pillow ! I recommand not using one and alternate right side / flat / left side kicking.
- on your back, with a kickboard at the tip of your hand above your knee, kick ! the game is the move and amke splashes WITHOUT your knee touching the board. Hint : make your butt tight and bring it as high as possible (you have to keep head back - looking at the ceiling) :cool:
good luck
d
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gjpure posted 2 years ago.
The biggest thing that has helped me in this department is getting my chin down so it is almost touching my chest. You should be able to hold a tennis ball between you chest and chest. It is amazing what a difference that simple move has made in my swimming. That, and a little kick never hurts....
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bigdogtwo posted 2 years ago.
I have about a 1/2 inch or inch of water than flows over the back of my head when I swim I have no trouble with my legs sinking. This is what TI teaches.
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geochuck posted 2 years ago.
bigdogtwo wrote:
I have about a 1/2 inch or inch of water than flows over the back of my head when I swim I have no trouble with my legs sinking. This is what TI teaches.
I tried to find where TI teaches that the water should pass over the back of your head. Could not find it. and have watched many of the videos but I am still looking.
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bluebirdbiker posted 2 years ago.
Hey George, I find all of this interesting after Friday's session. :)
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There are no excuses - so don't look for them. As a product of your own choices, you directly determine your life outcomes.
Don't think, just do.
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geochuck posted 2 years ago.
bluebirdbiker wrote:
Hey George, I find all of this interesting after Friday's session. :)
How is it going BBB are the big toes touching??
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bigdogtwo posted 2 years ago.
geochuck wrote:
I tried to find where TI teaches that the water should pass over the back of your head. Could not find it. and have watched many of the videos but I am still looking.
Geochuck - my TI book is loaned out so I can't look for it. I am pretty sure it says it in there. But, I could be wrong - maybe that advice came from my TI certified swim coach.
As a pro level swimmer, what are your thoughts on TI? Wikipedia has an interesting write up of TI.
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geochuck posted 2 years ago.
It does say in there that most (and I think most does not mean water passes over the back of your head) of the head should be in the water but to me a swimmer and competitor since age five I have gone through the changes by trial and error. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Total_immersion and for the non swimmer I believe it is a compilation of everything we go through to be a good swimmer but I would say 10 min with a coach would be better than reading and watching videos.
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geochuck posted 2 years ago.
My legs are dragging now after the knee operation, see my knee and the 22 staples after the op. scroll down on my Home Page swimdownhill.com
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deepbluex posted 2 years ago.
When my legs were sinking, I exaggerated my posture by purposely trying to position my head below the lowest part of my body in the water. By pushing down on my head and shoulders to try to make them sink, it made my legs come up higher. After practicing a lot, I developed a better feel and adjusted my position little by little until I didn't have to exaggerate anymore.
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geochuck posted 2 years ago.
My new swim suit line helps keep your legs on the top. I am taking orders, first come first served. http://www.encyclopedia.chicagohistory.org/pages/10662.html
So, I'm dragging arse...er, legs. Any technique suggustions or drills I can do to get my back half to sit a bit higher in the water and not drag?