I am a swimmer, but not a triathlete. Both swimmers here rotate their palms/hands/fingers a bit near the finish part of the arm stroke so the finish is with little finger pointing up. I try to keep my hands as square to the pull as possible for maximum grip on the water. By rotating your hands, you are slipping more than gripping, if that makes any sense.... I do a lot of catch up drill, and always with a snorkel. Focus is on full extension, body rotation, long stroke, "suck in your gut like you are trying to put your belly button on your spine", and head position. I do count strokes per lap, and try to stretch them out as much as possible. I also try to remember to get the little wrist flip at the end. Like being on hands and knees in the sand box, and scooping up a hand fun of sand, and trying to toss it back into a hole 5 or more feet behind you. Most of the time, I just use a 2 beat kick. Oh, the asymmetrical stroke is generally called 'gallop' style. This is far more common with men than women, but Katie Ledecky is an exception. It is a quick 1, 2, and a slight pause on extending the breathing side arm. Not positive why it is so effective. The swimmer also porpoises a bit as well.
Totally, but also depends on the human. No stroke fits all. Distance swimmers tend to incorporate it more because you can get a little more distance-per-stroke out of the extended glide. Typically, less strokes = less energy. But for other folks, the higher tempo is faster and less work to maintain. We’d recommend the almost catchup drill for athletes that try to rush through their stroke and could benefit from more glide as they incorporate skills from catchup into their regular freestyle
I am a swimmer, but not a triathlete. Both swimmers here rotate their palms/hands/fingers a bit near the finish part of the arm stroke so the finish is with little finger pointing up. I try to keep my hands as square to the pull as possible for maximum grip on the water. By rotating your hands, you are slipping more than gripping, if that makes any sense.... I do a lot of catch up drill, and always with a snorkel. Focus is on full extension, body rotation, long stroke, "suck in your gut like you are trying to put your belly button on your spine", and head position. I do count strokes per lap, and try to stretch them out as much as possible. I also try to remember to get the little wrist flip at the end. Like being on hands and knees in the sand box, and scooping up a hand fun of sand, and trying to toss it back into a hole 5 or more feet behind you. Most of the time, I just use a 2 beat kick.
Oh, the asymmetrical stroke is generally called 'gallop' style. This is far more common with men than women, but Katie Ledecky is an exception. It is a quick 1, 2, and a slight pause on extending the breathing side arm. Not positive why it is so effective. The swimmer also porpoises a bit as well.
I will definitely incorporate this drill in my next swim!
this video is absolutely great and super helpful, actually all your videos are super helpful, thank you
Thanks a lot for these valuable tips
Professional swimmer, I just wonder during the recovery why do you throw your hand roughly back before bring it back to the water?
“Imagine you’re a rotisserie chicken” is officially all I’m thinking about in the pool from now on 🍖 but also THANK YOU I so needed this
it's probably the most important metaphor in swimming
Thanks for your sharing
What about hip driven freestyle? There are some video for triathleta?
isn't the almost catchup stroke a good swimming style for long distances?
Totally, but also depends on the human. No stroke fits all. Distance swimmers tend to incorporate it more because you can get a little more distance-per-stroke out of the extended glide. Typically, less strokes = less energy. But for other folks, the higher tempo is faster and less work to maintain. We’d recommend the almost catchup drill for athletes that try to rush through their stroke and could benefit from more glide as they incorporate skills from catchup into their regular freestyle
very nice inf.
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