Basic Swimming Concepts

The aim of our program is to lower resistance as you swim, if this can be developed over a period of time then you will swim more efficiently, save energy and leave you a lot fresher when transitioning onto the bike leg of your Triathlon.

There are three key areas to helping you swim faster, smoother, longer and more efficiently through the water, these are:

1. Lengthen your pull: the further distance the body travels per stroke means fewer strokes needed to complete the swim distance in competitions. You must catch the stroke properly in the first instance to start a more powerful catch phase and have your body travel over your hand rather then have your hand slip under your body. This often happens if the fingers are open and the hand is slipping through a cloud of bubbles and water after a sloppy hand entry.
2. Stop relying on your legs to keep you afloat and propel you forwards, the legs do neither very well. Even the best leg kick in the world can only add a tiny proportion in forwards propulsion compared to that generated from the arms.
3. Start to swim on your side, especially the upper body. This will lower your frontal area of resistance, bring into play the stronger muscles of the back for a stronger pull and automatically lengthen your stroke.