Am in the process of fixing my stroke, have a bunch of stuff to fix as confirmed by some self-videos that I made of myself (not gonna post them here - too embarrassing!) Main one is that my pull isn’t wide enough, which leads to dropped elbow on the pull.
Have been doing some snorkel work to isolate and emphasize the wider pull, which seems to be helping, but I’m still in the adjustment phase so I’m not seeing any speed gains yet.
For all you people who are good at snorkel use, do you find that you are faster, slower or the same speed as your non-snorkel freestyle speed for the same effort? I am a hair slower with the snorkel on a 25, but I can only really judge on 25s as the lack of flip turn equivalence (I can’t flip with the snorkel, nor can I open turn as fast with the snorkel) makes it hard to compare directly.
I have used a snorkel somewhat consistently for several years. I do find that I am slightly slower with the snorkel, but same as you I do open turns so it is hard to compare. Also, I’m doing Z3 effort or easier with a snorkel as I find hard efforts very difficult with the snorkel due to not being able to get as much air. So if you compared a threshold set, snorkel would be way slower than no snorkel, but I don’t ever do that and it is not really the right application of snorkel use anyways.
I consider that very much dependend on training. People training with the snorkel a lot, get faster when swimming with a snorkel. By keeping the body position more stable, theoretically the snorkel should be faster, if you can breath enough oxygen in.
On the other side, I never train with a snorkel - tried it for a while, but didn’t like it - and I am much slower with it, because it messes up my rhythm.
I think it is the same with all drills and exercises within swimming, they have their own learning curve. The question is - and I can’t answer that - which tools and drills make regular freestyle faster.
I am Sutton influenced, I use the Pull and Paddles (no Band for amateurs) a lot, but no other swim toys.
I’m definitely faster without the snorkel. I use it for maybe 1000-1200 almost every time I swim. It’s mostly bc it’s my favorite training tool, and it enforces me thinking about technique. It also enforces aerobic level and low ANT level training. And it breaks up some of the monotony of training.
I’m defo slower with it.
I think I can feel the extra drag.
But as others say, I’m only using it for technique drills so no real issue. ( I feel the extra drag on freestyle as often the drills are done as drills in 1 direction then freestyle back through other direction, to re-inforce / take the aim of the drill immediately into the actual swim stroke)
I’m pretty sure that most people would be slower with the snorkel. It’s due to the oxygen levels being limited because the snorkel shaft allows less air than you would get if your turned your head and breathed.
do you find that you are faster, slower or the same speed as your non-snorkel freestyle speed for the same effort?
For LSD swimming I am faster with the same effort with a snorkel. I’m pretty sure that is because it removes several flaws in my stroke including; letting me see and concentrate on my hand entry and catch, removing any flaws in my breathing technique, and probably most importantly keeping my head down which floats the hips which is almost the same as using a pull buoy. I have no problem flip turning with the snorkel and breathing isn’t an issue as long as I keep the effort in check. I’m pretty sure I could PR my Ironman swim if I was allowed to use one (for sure if it was wetsuit legal).
Disclaimer: I’m not counting my 53 swim at IMCHOO this year as a PR
I’m glad there’s snorkel talk. Right now, I am about the same speed at the same effort. I also combine the snorkel with other toys such as PB paddles, fins, to work on specific parts of the front crawl.
One thing the snorkel enforces is deep breathing, controlled breathing.
As well, it will “tell you” what your optimum head position should be. I soon found out that if my head is looking right at the bottom of the pool, I am slower, so it is fun to experiment that way.
I’m usually slightly faster with the snorkel compared to a similar effort without it. Which probably tells me turning my head to breathe is messing up my stroke and slowing me down.
do you find that you are faster, slower or the same speed as your non-snorkel freestyle speed for the same effort?
For LSD swimming I am faster with the same effort with a snorkel. I’m pretty sure that is because it removes several flaws in my stroke including; letting me see and concentrate on my hand entry and catch, removing any flaws in my breathing technique, and probably most importantly keeping my head down which floats the hips which is almost the same as using a pull buoy. I have no problem flip turning with the snorkel and breathing isn’t an issue as long as I keep the effort in check. I’m pretty sure I could PR my Ironman swim if I was allowed to use one (for sure if it was wetsuit legal).
Disclaimer: I’m not counting my 53 swim at IMCHOO this year as a PR
If you did full distance NON ironman branded race
You could use the snorkel correct?
I’m pretty sure that most people would be slower with the snorkel. It’s due to the oxygen levels being limited because the snorkel shaft allows less air than you would get if your turned your head and breathed.
How much of the reduced oxygen level is due to the constricted airflow vs exhaled breath being in the snorkel? Would a swim snorkel with something similar to a scuba regulator that vents the exhaled air directly out the mouth piece instead of back through the snorkel help? Or I suppose simply exhaling through your nose.
Never used a snorkel but assuming if you have correct body roll in your stroke, you should be faster without a snorkel because you can’t reach as far. I was told by a coach that your hip bone needs to be pointing to the sky so you maximize your reach. Almost like you are swimming on your side (which I assume may be difficult with a snorkel).
