Swimming is the locomotion of creatures in a liquid medium, usually involving the use of fins and a streamlined body. It is a vital skill for all mammals and amphibians. In humans, it is also a popular recreational activity and a competitive sport. Swimming requires a certain set of fundamental skills that are learned through practice and coaching. A few simple tweaks to your technique can help you go faster in the water.
When you swim at a fast pace, it puts your body under more stress and exposes any flaws in your technique. During the week, your muscles are more used to doing slow work, and you may not notice mistakes that appear during speed drills. If you want to improve your time in the pool, make sure to add speed drills regularly.
Often, swimmers become lazy in their stroke technique and make small errors that compound into big ones. Fortunately, these mistakes are easier to correct than you might think. One such mistake is failing to point your toes while you swim. This makes your ankles tighten up and limits the movement of your feet through the water. To fix this, stretch your legs and practice pointing your toes while you kick.
Another error is not breathing frequently enough during a swim. This can cause your head to sink in the water, creating drag and hindering your progress. Rather, be sure to take a full breath early in your stroke cycle. You should also try to minimize side-to-side head movements.
Many new swimmers make the mistake of breathing on the same side each time they swim. While this is okay for beginners, as you become more experienced, it’s best to alternate your breathing sides to reduce the strain on your neck and shoulders. Additionally, be sure to exhale all the air out of your lungs before taking a breath.
Having long arms will allow you to surf through the water with more power and efficiency. The key is to not move your leading arm until your recovering arm catches up with it. This is known as the catch-up method, and it’s an important component to mastering a smooth and consistent stroke tempo.
It’s important to have good hip rotation during a swim, because this will allow you to move more quickly through the water. Often, swimmers have poor hip movement because they aren’t rolling their bodies from side to side during the stroke cycle. When you rotate your hips, it activates more muscles and helps you to swim faster.
As a beginner, it’s a good idea to stick with freestyle and backstroke until you’ve gained some proficiency. However, once you’ve mastered these basic techniques, you can start to explore more advanced strokes such as butterfly and breaststroke. With these more complex strokes, it’s a good idea to have a coach or experienced swimmer guide you through the proper technique. This will ensure that you’re maximizing your potential and aren’t making any unnecessary mistakes.