Swimming: freestyle symmetry high elbow “Wingline”
Posted on Nov 11, 2009 with Comments 25
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I have a few other videos on what I call the “head and goggle lines”.
There are many considerations beyond technique. Flexibility, mobility and strength as well.
So, it’s not always just about making the right movment, but being able to execute within the limitations of your flexibility and mobility.
A good coach and or PT can help you assess this.
The elbow should remain very close to the surface of the water. Therefore, the forearm to the hand will be the depth of the hand and arm in the water.
How deep should the hand/arm go into the water?
Hi Marc, my swimming improved a lot with your tips and drills, I have just one question though. I couldn’t find anything related to head position. In the classic swimming style, my head is completely parallel to the bottom of the floor, but when I try it with the V-line, it feels like it’s not correct. Can you advise on that? Thanks again for the great coaching tips
i was responding to someone else. People will be under the impression that you want them to cup their hands…. it does not seem like cupping to me but i will watch my self on video more closely next time
Every individuals hand it “cupped shaped”. It is not a flat surface. Rather, the hand and fingers gently curve and cup. A relaxed hand is a cupped hand.
There is nothing mentioned in the video that I recall about a cupping of the hand. However, the SPEEDO training paddles I patented lauched a trend in paddle technology which is an airfoil shape (cupped).
And if you look at a hand it is similar to this. An individuals hand cannot be flat. It is cupped escpecially in the palm.
hahh never cup your hand…… keep the hand relaxed… watch thorpe, phelps, hackett videos
so is it similiar to stroking the water with a bit more pressue with a cupped hand?thanks very much for ur reply.
Do NOT “push back”. You want to “hold” the water with a cupped hand, and feeling pressure along the forearm after establishing the Wingline. And yes, always be “relaxed”. If you want to swim faster relax more.
jst a question..when i start pushing my arm back..do i need to push very hard to go faster?or should i jst “stroke” the water in a relaxed manner?
Thanks very much for sharing that with us coach. Excellent video.
i figured out why cant i go fast even if i pull really hard…cus my left arm is not doing the high elbow…only my right arm…that makes me lose my blanace…thanks for the video!!!
Coach Evans-
What a fantastic video! I knew something was wrong with my stroke…I must couldn’t figure out what it was. Know I know! I can’t wait to get in the pool and begin practicing the freestyle catch. Thank You!
Thank you, coach Evans !
Being a very recreational swimmer, I never get under 20 minutes per 1000 meters.
I’ll practice this tomorrow, great instructional video.
Breathing should be natural and in concert, symmetry with the timing of the rest of your stroke. A good tip is to begin the head rotation as soon as you start the anchoring and pull. This way, it’s all together and not asymmetrical.
And the head should not be “raised”, but turned witht the torso and just enough to get air and not further…that’s the “goggle line” or one eye out of the water during the breath. This can be difficult at first, but well work the effort down the road.
In one or more of my videos I discuss the “head line” and “goggle line”. Also, performing 3 left and 3 right one arm strokes. Try breathing every stroke during the drill while maintaining your head and goggle lines as I’ve discussed.
Breathing on both sides is difficult for many, but after a number of sessions you’ll be on track to improving your breathing symmetry. And remember it sometimes takes several weeks or longer to reconstruct a swimming stroke.
Hi Coach.
great vids. Could you do one on freestyle breathing techniques? i just cant get the timing or rythmn correct, often breathing out too much or not enough etc in time to raise my head.
its the one area that i just cant seem to get any better at.
thanks in advance and appreciate the videos.
Thanks Coach
The reason a swimmer does not go immediately to the Wingline is that the opposing hand and forearm must complete their propulsive phase. And that shouldn’t be too far back, but exit before the top of the hips. Secondly, the longer reach allow “more water” to be “anchored” and thus, more “hold” and furthering the distance per each stroke.
First, you might benefit from the Swimming video on exercises for the shoulder I just put up. Secondly, RC problems are often related to weaknesses and errors in technique. The extension to the Wingline is MUCH LESS stressful upon the shoulder muscululature to be sure. There’s a good chance if your problems are technique that using the open arm pit and wingline you’ll experience relief from the should problems.
Im practicing you Wingline and High elbow drills.
Two supplementary queries.:
I have a mild Rotator Cuff problem, ie, not bad enough for surgery, but bad enough to give me discomfort with a number of arm activities. Are your techniques likely to aggravate that?
Wondering why at hand entry one doesn’t just go straight down to the open arm pit, fingers on glass position, instead of the recommended stretch forward, followed by the arm set up movement to begin the scrape the glass routine?
I thought this was a great and easy way to get the concept of the high elbow. I’m going to use the 3-L and 3-R as well as the kickboard drill.
Wonderful and generous explanation about the catch. As an anatomist it makes perfect sense. Thanks for posting it on you tube!
Try exiting the underwater pull between the hip and the lower ribs. I’ll do a video on the sometime in the near future.
It’s difficult to answer your question without seeing you swim. However, starts, turns and bilateral symmetry are very important. You’re already swimming well…so, working different sections of the 50 can also be helpful. For example, the dolphin kick, the finish and middle and turn. Best of luck.