SWIM DRILLS – Part 1
There are lots of swimming drills you can do to help you with your technique and over the next few months I will be talking about which drills work best to help correct or focus on certain parts of your frontcrawl stroke.
The drill that is a bit of an all-rounder and is great for fitness and stroke correction is the ‘CATCH UP’ drill.
Why?
This swimming drill ticks lots of boxes when it comes to frontcrawl technique, especially preparing you for open water.
Catch up
1. Creates equal rotation in your hips and shoulders ✓
2. Gives you equal balance ✓
3. Encourages you to use your legs ✓
4. Creates distance per stroke ✓
5. Slows stroke rate down ✓
6. Lowers stroke count per swim ✓
7. Stops you from windmilling your arms ✓
8. Helps to increase power under the water ✓
9. Increases your aerobic capacity ✓
10. Saves energy expenditure ✓
Top Tip – DON’T allow your hands to touch when performing Catch Up. If your hands touch you will find yourself crossing the centreline at the top end of the stroke which will then make you ‘snake’ through the water (especially in open water).
Ensure you enter in line with your shoulders. Think enter on your ‘train tracks’.
Note: Always perform your drills in the swimming pool.
Come see us at Heathwood swimming & well transform your swimming and get your prepped and ready for open water swimming. We currently have 15% off ALL adult 121 analysis sessions.
About The Author
Dave Tonge
Heathwood Swimming caters to all adults wishing to learn to swim, improve their technique, or be put through their paces in an endurance session. Our Endless Swimming Pool is great for Teaching and Coaching Adult non-swimmers, Beginners, open-water, Masters, or age-group swimmers. Pool & Open water Swimmer & Coach Owner of Heathwood Swimming & Triathlon MSc Physical Activity & Health RLSS Trainer Assessor Welsh Masters record holder. World Record Holder - longest wetsuit swim in an endless pool (24 hours) Finished in the top 20 at the Tenby LCW Swim 5 times from 2011-2016 (PB 48:18) Completed Long Course Weekend Tenby 2016, 2018, 2019, 2023 & 2024. 4 Times IRONMAN
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