Do you remember this entry where I answered a regular Squidkid reader’s question about performing the freestyle better? It was a very tailored answer. If you’re visiting for the first time because you want to learn more about doing the freestyle right, you’ll also want to visit here and here.
It has been 3 months now since I got your advice and I am happy to tell you that after consistent effort, I am able to do a complete lap now. I have followed your advice on relaxing as much as possible with a lots of practice on my back. I find myself more relaxed now and also I am able to concentrate on my arms’ movements that propels me forward.
My next attempt is breast-stroke where I am failing quite miserably. Whenever I get my head up for a breath and get my head down again, I go deep inside the water. Not sure whats going wrong.
First of all, congrats are in order if any of you are feeling a bit more comfortable from where you started with freestyle. It’s also a great idea to tackle the other strokes, as they use different muscles in your body and make your workout more interesting = more of a chance you’ll stick with it.
The breast stroke actually takes more strength to perform than the freestyle. This is because you are making deeper, bigger movements with the breast stroke and thus working the water away like a weight. So it makes sense our reader Rahul here would come down hard under the water as he is pulling to the surface very strongly with his arms. We call that velocity or momentum. But you can make the physics work for you.
- Your hands are your steering wheel. When you do the breast stroke, reach forward with your fingers parallel to the surface and just slightly under water. If you point or pull down with your hands, you’re going to go — well — down.
- Breast stroke uses gliding a lot. Many people forget this: The patter for the breast stroke is Reach, Pull, Kick, Glide. That glide part should have you, again, hands/fingers stretched forward and parallel just slightly under the surface with elbows straighten almost squeezing your ears with your face looking down. Savor the glide. Don’t rush to the next Pull.
- Grab the kickboard and just do the frog kick. Holding the top with arms stretched on the board and chin close to the water, practice this breast stroke kick. I think of it in 3 parts: Knees up, Apart, Together. That “V” your outstretched legs create from Apart to Together is crucial — it is what traps water and propels you forward.
- Keep body at a slight angle. Too much and the legs will sink and the arms will over-compensate, which could be what is happening here. Head needs to not look up, but rather look forward both above and under water.
I hate to say this, but I have to be honest — the breast stroke either comes very natural to a person or it comes very awkward and hard. This doesn’t mean it isn’t possible — I’ve trained many a body to melt into the breast stroke — it just means you needs to work on morphing your movements into a very graceful blend. That takes time. Begin by staying loose, not tense. Shear will and direction cannot get you there — only time and practice.
Tags: breast stroke, Freestyle Stroke
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