Before everyone assumes this is another thread by a rock pleading for help - I'm not that crappy in the water (20:30 for 1500m SC), but I have this naggning problem that I can't seem to fix and I think I can be swimming a lot faster if it were for this.

When I swim my ass moves around like a snake (or so my coach tells me). I know the typical reason for this is hands crossing the middle line, but that's not the case with me (if anything my pull is too much to the side and my elbows are too far from my body).

My coach tells me the following:

• Hand recovery is too stiff. Loosen up and imagine your arm is only from the shoulder to your elbow. That's the part that does the real propelling work underwater, with your hand and fingers only catching the water, and they should be really loose above water (just throw them forward).
• Strengthen abs and lowerback.
• While swimming try to concentrate on keeping your ass stabilized by compressing it and your lower abs.

Basically my problem is my ass is too loose (ladys it isn't really!). It floats in the water and moves around. I don't really have a strong kick so that could be a factor too.

If I try to squeeze my ass while swimming it seems to lessen the 'snake', but I find it hard to roll and do the little kicking I do do.

Doug Stern, desert dude, anyone else, you have any suggestions or ideas on how to stop this?