improve my swimming

[sandwiches77]

I can only manage half to three quarters of a length of front crawl. What is the best way to build up to a whole length?! Maybe even two lengths in one go!!?

As a child I used to swim for a club near me. Training 6-7 times a week swimming 3-4 miles a session.
Technique is a big help .
You can easily find videos on YouTube. Also getting into a rhythm helps, breath every 2 or 3 and be consistent with stroke.

Kick your legs, and reach forward when using your arms instead of chopping the water early.
I know it may sound silly but try doggy paddle. This will help you reach and it automatically makes you kick your legs.

Need anymore help just send a DM or @ me,

Best of luck x

Technique is honestly everything. If you’re doing every two strokes and gasping I’d try to stretch to 3 or 4, for sure. Bilateral breathing isn’t as hard as it sounds but it takes a little getting used to.

While you’re building up stamina I’d avoid windmilling your arms (ie one hand starts the new stroke as the other one returns to the front). This is the one I find really hard when I’ve not been swimming in ages and need to build up stamina again. But if after each stroke you keep both hands out in front at the horizontal for a moment and just let your legs propel you forward, you’ll get a small recovery at each stroke (and a chance to get rid of more air so that you’re really ready to inhale on the next stroke.)

@Bananarama21

sandwiches77is your right side stronger? It sounds like your a unilateral swimmer, if you struggle swimming and changing to different sides try breathing every 2 or 4. It's common in adults who may have an previous injury to have a stronger side. I was a club swimmer and after having dd and sustaining an hip injury during labour and then spd with ds I find my rotation of my breastroke legs is slightly off because of this.

Thank you for this. I can only breath to one side due to arthritis in my neck making it very difficult to breath to my right.

Get lessons.

You’ll benefit far more from a couple of technique sessions than trying to hack down a pool teaching yourself.

I can’t see how you swim so have no idea if any of the advice on this thread will work- you could end up trying too many things and ending up worse.

Lots of pools now cater for adult beginners and improvers, phone around.

I struggle with front crawl and think after reading this that a few lessons with a coach might be the answer. It's definitely my breathing that's the issue. I also feel so uncomfortable/self conscious doing front crawl, because I feel so rubbish at it.