In this video, we're delving into a crucial aspect of swimming technique: hand entry and extension forward for a powerful stroke. Using clear visual cues and analogies, we'll focus on refining this fundamental element to enhance your efficiency, speed, and prevent injuries. Drawing inspiration from top athletes like Shelley Taylor-Smith and Michael Phelps, we'll dissect their techniques and provide actionable tips for your own improvement.
By visualizing a seamless transition from hand entry to catch, you'll learn to spear into the water with your fingertips first, followed by a subtle wrist tilt for optimal engagement. We'll explore common mistakes to avoid, such as overgliding or excessive wrist flexion, and introduce tools like the Finis Bolster Paddle to aid your practice.
Examining Phelps' stroke, we'll uncover his ingenious strategy to maximize distance per stroke without compromising efficiency. Despite his exceptional physique, Phelps adheres to biomechanical principles, emphasizing the importance of fingertip depth to maintain a strong catch position.
Throughout the video, we'll reinforce key principles: entering fingertips first, maintaining proper depth, and initiating the catch with a subtle fingertip tilt. With these visual cues and drills, you'll refine your technique and swim smoother and faster.
Share your progress and insights in the comments, and consider sharing this video with your swimming community to enhance their skills. Dive in, apply these techniques, and elevate your freestyle swimming to new heights. Thanks for watching, and see you in the next video!
Join us as we dissect the groundbreaking techniques of the best male and female distance freestylers at the 2024 World Championships - Daniel Wiffen (IRELAND) and Simona Quadarella (ITALY) - who both won the 800/1500 double 🌊
In today's video we'll share with you 4 top tips from 4 Hawaii Ironman World Champions that have become better, more versatile swimmers with the actionable advice given to them when working directly with Swim Smooth Head Coach, Paul Newsome.
Now this really is efficient (and fast) swimming! Watch Olympian Jono Van Hazel's near perfect stroke technique just before your next swim and reproduce his smooth movements when you jump in the water: a very powerful way to improve your swimming.
Notice that while Jono has a very long freestyle stroke technique he doesn't achieve this by gliding (a very common misconception amongst swimmers). Instead he has low drag and fantastic propulsive technique which gives him great distance per stroke.
Whilst he has a long stroke, he also has great stroke rhythm - the real secret to great swimming. Our 'time between strokes' measure shows that Jono has nearly zero gap between finishing one stroke and starting the next. (In fact when he's swimming quickly there's even a slight overlap between strokes.) His lead hand is constantly in motion, either extending forwards, catching the water or pressing it backwards: great catch technique and no over-gliding.
Swim Smooth!
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