I have also, been having this issue, a lifeguard told me, I was swimming flat instead of rotating. When you mentioned a lack of core engagement, I will experiment with it on my next trip to the pool
i'm pretty sure this is my exact problem - can't wait to try this at practice tomorrow. it happens in all strokes, almost feels like i'm "too buoyant" as my body position is naturally higher in the water and at times turbulence from other swimmers causes me to drift off course. also need to work on streamline so will do both concurrently and see what happens
Hi Mandy. I’m so glad I’ve found your channel. I used to think I was swimming straight in open water but about a year ago I bought a GPS watch and I can see I was very wrong. This happens despite frequent sighting. I mostly swim to the right as this is my dominant and breathing side. I’m working on balancing my stroke & bilateral breathing during the off season. I’ll look at your tips from this video too. Would you recommend getting someone to video me at the pool so I get a better idea of what’s happening?
Hi shaun I’m happy these videos are useful for your training! I would definitely recommend practicing both sides so you don’t fall dependent on just one side. Bilateral breathing is a great start as it forces you to breathe on both and also you learn how to develop breath control for this sequence. Yes, having someone take a short video of you from above is very helpful so you can see what’s going on. 👍🏼🏊🏼♂️ -Coach Mandy
Coach Mandy, how do I swim backstroke straight? I think I can almost get it, but I don’t believe in my stroke enough unless I’m swimming in an indoor pool with the ceiling as a marker.
Hi Keith Hiew it could be that something in your technique is causing you to bend your spine or one part of your stroke is moving out of alignment. It may be your head position or letting go of your core. Try these points with backstroke and let me know if it helps! 👍🏼 -Coach Mandy
Top tips as always CM! My main issue is i think i may not be swimming straight in open water and keep sighting too often, when in fact i am swimming in straight line. Make sense?
Run Guru Run yes definitely makes sense and if that’s the case, spread out your sighting and notice if you still maintain proper posture in the water. If you don’t break your form, you will swim straight. 👍🏼 Test it out and let me know! -Coach M
Coach I think my shoulder is hurting because I am using them to support my swimming. I’m kind of a self taught swimmer and I always veer off to the left. Please help 😫
Hi Jordan, yes you may be using your shoulders improperly in the water. This playlist will help: ru-vid.com/group/PLtkHLt3sCyVrK9sbp6pvXMrenbBHlGF6V The goal is to stabilize from your core and not your shoulders. First thing to do is watch the aquatic profile test then follow with the lower back episode. I would advise to not push through shoulder pain if you are still struggling with this. Let me know how your training goes from there! 👏🏼🏊🏼♂️ Coach M
Great video, Coach Mandy, as always! It's especially helpful to see the core engaged in your demo as you swim towards the camera starting at 2:23. I rarely see this angle in swimming videos. I am trying to keep my core engaged as I focus on proper form in the pool. Seeing it from you is motivational. :)
Hi coach Mandy, I always look forward for your vedios. Thanks for sharing your knowledge. I have one question, I take 17 strokes in 25m pool in freestyle, is this fine or should I improve it by gliding more.
HI Sandeep, from face value, thats not a bad stroke count but would need to know are you physically counting or using a watch? 2.How tall are you? -Coach M🏊
sandeep gupta yes 17 is an excellent stroke count to maintain. There is no need to decrease further as you are in the correct place. Also, you don’t want to exceed past 20 as you increase your workload. Nice work! -Coach Mandy
Thank you so much coach Mandy for your reply. Sometimes when I am in exact rhythm I take only 14 strokes, it's only when I remember all the points but otherwise I take 17 strokes. And just to update you, I am doing fine in dolphin kick too. I really owe you coach Mandy. Thanks for your guidance.
Hello. Im following your YT chanel...and its great. I have one question about my swimming. I have a pretty much straight arm in the water...can get that power diamant or high elbow catch ⊙>. Have you any idea on what should I pay attention (is my hand entry to shallow or to deep) Any drill suggestions. Thx and keep the good work. Br Seb.
I find one advice a was given time ago, to be particularly helpful. Imagine there is a big enough pipe in front of you and behind it there is s object you wanna retrieve. Now, how would your arm and hand move. If you can do such movement, you are not far from high elbow catch.
Sebastjan Gergorič got it. Well this portion of the stroke is a complex movement and may be difficult to describe through here. However, I will be coming out with a break down of the catch in future videos. In the meantime, what’s happening is your dropping the low arm way to quickly focus on keeping it relaxed out front until the higher arm enters the water. This will help you start the process to get past moving the arm straight. Have you seen one of my older videos on the catch? 👍🏼 -Coach M
@@SWIMVICE Im asuming that my hand when enters the water and extend forward below it, my elbow drops under my palm (if we draw a imaginare line from shoulder to palm - the elbow is below, it should be up that line).
Coach Mandy, I am not at fault here. I know you blocked me but you can read this and this article appeared in yahoo:US teen swimmer sanctioned for buttocks-baring bathing suit
Another thing that will help is to alternate which side you breath on. Left, right, left, right etc. Also visualize a center line running lengthwise through your body. After each arm pull your body should rotate back to level center.
Thanks for the video coach Mandy. I do swim straight in pools and open water. There is something I wanna ask you. I noticed in previous videos as well as in this one that your hand is not in perfect line with your forearm. Do you purposely bend hands from the wrist in order to catch more water, or it happens naturally? Would appreciate if you answer whenever you got enough spare time.
Hi Bozhidar Madzharov yes! The slight shift you see is due to my hand and wrist being relaxed. The catch is mainly formed from your forearm and hand together. If there’s too much tension in the hand, this can lead to your elbow collapsing where you lose the catch entirely and where I also feel shoulder pain immediately. However, I’m still working on the catch and improving this piece overtime. 🙌🏽👍🏼 -Coach M
the biggest struggle i have is swimming backstroke straight. i’m not sure what i’m doing wrong but i go from being in the middle of the lane to right next to the lane line. could you help?
emily yes, I definitely understand. There are different habits that will cause you to swim crooked for backstroke. To summarize, anything that throws your posture and alignment off, will cause you to swim either left or right. I will be coming out with a video on this soon. Stay tuned! 🙌🏽😄🏊🏼♂️ -Coach Mandy
