I've been posting of the +ve effects of improved body shape can have swimming. Getting faster with dry-land posture work, and not even swimming a lap for months. The benefits for me have been remarkable.... but my posture was pretty bad to start with.

Then I posted theory on the importance of kickboard work: My opinion was that using a kickboard helps to establishes proper lower (and upper) body form in the water.

Anyway I had a couple of great examples from the bleachers of the pool today.

First dude is solid form from tip to tail. Straight positioning in the legs add to his overall length. I call this being very long in the water.

The second set of swimmers (there are two videos) are breaking down along their keels. They are not forming a nice line or edge on which to glide. So very short = no glide or movement per stroke.

So obvious to me - how can you expect to swim at pace when you can't flow? It just becomes a hack and pull fest, which is what everyone tends to focus on initially at least.

Links to video. .

<https://www.instagram.com/...pauljager_sproatlake


<https://www.instagram.com/...pauljager_sproatlake


What I noticed is the second, straight-arm pulling swimmer is also bobbing his head up and down, in addition to bilaterally breathing. As a short person, I have adopted a straight-arm recovery as well because it is faster for me.

Seems to me what would be most helpful for me then (5'3") would be to hear answers to: how can I get taller. I'm all ears, if you've got ideas.

Maybe it is the angle of the video (and I am no swim coach), but the swimmer with a "long" body position looks to have a pretty poor head position and does not seem to be spearing the water very deep with their hand entry, effectively looking like they are putting on the brakes at the front of their stroke.