I’ve noticed that on my pull, my hand, instead of moving straight back through the water, has a bit of side to side motion in it. I can’t seem to get it to stop. Any suggestions?
When you’re tired or all of the time?
When you’re tired or all of the time?
Good question. I’ve only noticed it on the cool down at the end of session. So yes to tired. Don’t know about all the time.
I think it’s reasonable that when you get tired you can’t catch and pull like you can when you’re fresh. And since you’re only noticing it during your cool down it could be something that manifests itself when you swim slower.
But since you don’t know. I don’t know. And even if you knew, I still may not know.
Note what happens when you’re swimming at race pace in your next workout…
Is your hand following an S shaped path, going away from your body and then back in and out at the end?
Is your hand following an S shaped path, going away from your body and then back in and out at the end?
This is a fair description of what it is doing. I would guess a 1/4 to 1/2 inch (or maybe 1/8 to 1/4 inch) from side to side; just enough to be noticeable.
One drill I practice regularly goes like this…
After your hand enters the water and you complete the “catch phase” keeping your elbow high, “trace” the outsides of the black line at the bottom of the pool with your fingertips, right side with right hand, left side with left hand. I try to imagine myself tracing all the way from one end of the pool to the other… that helps me complete a full stroke rather than pulling my arms out of the water at waist level.
It seems like this helps me keep my hands steady in the water, and it helps me catch as much water as possible with my forearms…assuming my hands and arms are in a straight line (ie: no bending my wrist)
I don’t know if this drill will be of any help, but if your arms are tired, it might be a good mental drill more than anything to keep 'em steady.
Jodi
hmm, i do something similar AND have a hard time pulling through all the way to my legs (short stroke). that’s an excellent drill, can’t wait to try it. I’ve dropped a ton of time this year in swimming but REALLY feel stagnant now.
thanks!
well now I am confused. Are you suppossed to pull stright back or in an S shape?