Swimming Tips

Posts Tagged ‘different’

I started competitively swimming last year. As it turns out I suck at freestyle, but am one of the best at breaststroke (technique-wise, not speed-wise yet :/ ). Are certain people built for different strokes? I’ve been swimming after the season with a swim club, and my freestyle is still incredibly slow, even though my technique is great.

Swimming is one of the favorite sport or hobbies of millions around the world. It is good for your body, improves your muscular strength and endurance, and refreshes your mind. It is a popular recreational activity, in particular where the climate is hot and in areas with natural watercourses. Swimming is known since pre-historic times and is still in practice.

Swimming involves different techniques or strokes, some of which are mentioned below:

The Crawl or Freestyle
The crawl is one of the most popular and the easiest of all. You float on your belly in the water, and propel yourself by rotating your arms in a windmill motion, and kick your legs in a fluttering motion. The toughest part of this swimming technique is the harmonization of the breathing while performing the strokes, since the face remains in the water almost all the time. In this technique the legs are kicked alternatively in a rotating motion.

Practice moving your body in different parts while present in the pool. Prepare for your head or face being submerged by practicing holding your breath, closing your eyes and putting your face in the water. Wearing goggles can make this a more comfortable experience by keeping water out of your eyes and allowing you to open them under water. If you don’t breathe in or move suddenly, you shouldn’t get water up your nose, but if you are uncomfortable start out by holding your nose.

The Crawl or Freestyle
Amongst all the swimming strokes, the crawl is the most popular, and beginners find it the easiest to learn. This style is sometimes referred to as the Australian crawl or the American crawl, although these are, in fact, more specific variants, which qualify as front crawl strokes. The first position for front crawl or Freestyle is the streamline position that is to stay on the stomach with both arms stretched out to the front and both legs extended to the back. The legs move alternately, with one leg kicking downward while the other leg moves upward.

Never try to force your hands through the water! As your technique improves you will feel as if you are climbing a “water ladder” with your hands and forearms resting against solid rungs of water. This is known as the “feel of water”. Try to practice these steps regularly and you will gradually learn how to swim!