#1 Mistake Masters Swimmers Make in Freestyle

We're going to discuss the number one mistake master swimmers make in today's video. Often, this mistake isn't coached, but something you've learned or naturally ingrained in your swimming. Let's talk more about how to fix this, since it is pretty tough to correct.
00:00 Start of video
00:16 - #1 Mistake
00:29 - Core connection in Freestyle
01:02 - Image of issue discussed
01:18 - Cross connection
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👀 Be sure to watch these other videos:
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[@dcoughman]

What about backstroke? Is it similar or different?

[@robohippy]

I am guessing you are figuring that the body rotation happens from the lower body rather than the shoulders. It is mechanically impossible for the lower body to drive body rotation. Yes, it does work in land based sports. Without exception in land sports, the rotation starts at the feet and goes up and out the fingers/hands for throwing, hitting, or pushing. With swimming we pull, we do not push. The body rotation anchors on the pulling arm. Without exception, every single swimmer who has a correctly linked pull and kick, the pulling arm engages and gets to the power point, which is about at 45 degrees through that arc, and then the kick on the same side launches. The pulling arm initiates the body rotation. This is also why when using the 6 beat kick pattern, the #1 kick is the power kick, and 2 and 3 are much weaker. The kick can not cause the body to rotate because there is nothing for them to anchor onto and you can not step into the rotation like a baseball pitcher does. Same is true for back stroke. I commented about this to Gary Hall Sr. and he replied some thing like "hmm, even in the 50 meter sprint, the pulling arm engages slightly before the down kick on the same side happens." Check out how you rotate when doing a back stroke flip turn and you roll from your back to your stomach, it is a nice even rotation, very clearly from the head and shoulders, down the length of your body to your feet, and onto your tummy. Hips rotate as one unit because they are fused bone all the way across. Shoulders rotate independently from each other. Pulling arm initiates upper body rotation, hips rotate, and then recover arm completes the rotation.

[@jacklauren9359]

Mate show us your stroke then we can talk. All these words but no action. Show us how you swim!

[@robohippy]

You ever swim catch up drill? There is no recovering arm, and freestyle works great. Why?

[@joanneltan]

Can u please illustrate?
Did u just showing how the wrong moves are made?

[@USMastersSwimming]

Hi, thanks for reaching out. Please checkout our freestyle video feed on our channel. We have plenty of technique videos. We also have a complete freestyle guide on our website (usms.org).

[@sophiawright3421]

how about drills to fix this?

[@USMastersSwimming]

Hi, thanks for reaching out. Please checkout our freestyle video feed on our channel. We have plenty of technique videos. We also have a complete freestyle guide on our website (usms.org).

[@christinefournier685]

Search for « two beat kick timing » and « two beat kick progression » on TH-cam. You will get some drills to work the timing and then you can add some kicks to get to 4 beat kick and 6 beat kick.

[@neillbrock9376]

Hmm.you better tell Katie Ledecy that.

[@roncobb2111]

Ledecky actually does this quite beautifully. Kick drives the hip rotation while the opposing arm enters the water and extends the body line, setting up the catch. Done properly everything just flows, but if you’re doing it incorrectly you might have to slow everything down for a while to get the pattern properly ingrained. Been preaching this for many years. Nice video!

[@roncobb2111]

That's the beauty of a properly timed kick. Saves so much energy.@@GeorgeGeorge-by2lf

[@albundy06]

@@GeorgeGeorge-by2lfWrong. She kicks plenty. From a full 6 beat kick all the way down to basically a one beat kick, aka a 2 beat kick with one of them being basically non existent.
Depending on the race and prelim or finals and even lap to lap depending on the race she’ll change it.

[@bobcolyer3859]

too much kneebend