Comments on: How to Swim the Freestyle Stroke

on 7/21/2008 I found a printout from this site, dated 08/03/00. I had many neck and back surgeries and could not workout or run for exercise. I went to the gym to walk in the water since I did not know how to swim! I was 60 years old. I found your website, evidently on 08/03/00, and started watching swimmers, and reading the steps and tips over and over. Here I am, 8 years later and swimming a mile in 39-41 minutes. I swim every day and get compliments on my form. What a rush! I have always kept your "steps" in my head and was surprised to find the print out. Was pleased to see this page still here. It helped me immensly. Paul Oscar

on 7/21/2008 Today I found a printout of this page, dated 08/03/2000. After several neck and back surgeries, I couldnot use exercise equipment or run. Our gym has a pool, so I started walking in the water...walking laps. As I walked I watched people swim, freestyle and thought..."I can do that!" I found your website (happy to see it is still here) and used your steps and tips, along with watching and imitating other swimmers and, at times, asking questions. I was 60 years old at the time. To swim one lap in a 25 yd pool, was a real chore. Now, eight years later, I am swimming a mile in 39-41 minutes, depending on how hard I want to beat my personal best of 38.62 minutes. Yes, I see the kids do laps at a rate of a 20 min mile and think...why not! Your page(s) on frestyle swimming instruction are terrific. I have used your simple advice as my mantra. Thakn you so much. Paul Oscar...fit in Wa

on 6/9/2007 Don't you think adding a sketch illustrating the dufferent steps would help people understand better?

on 6/9/2007 Don't you think adding a sketch illustrating the dufferent steps would help people understand better?

on 6/9/2007 Don't you think adding a sketch illustrating the dufferent steps would help people understand better?

on 1/19/2007 when swimming this stroke you want to pull the water while gliding through the water and when you swim the 50 meters this helps to but don't forget that kick

on 8/8/2006 Cupping your hands will make more water resistance, so it will make you go slower. If you don't cup your hands, you will go a lot faster.

on 8/8/2006 Instead of cupping your hand, slightly bend your fingers at the knuckles or it tires your fingers out!

on 7/2/2006 Pretend that your favorite food or item is there in front of you, but you must reach as far as you can to get it. Your cupped hand will act as a holder as you "take" the item to you. Repeat this as you swim.

on 6/30/2006 when you bring your arm through the water keep it straight, but instead of keeping it straight while in the arm and when it breaks the surface of the water bend it . As your arm comes out of the water bend it like you are showing some one with your arm how the beach water looks.

Shannon Johns
12yrs, VIC, AUS

on 6/30/2006 Cupping your hands will create more water resistance, so it will make you go slower. If you don't cup your hands, you will go a lot faster.

on 6/30/2006 A swim cap will stop a drag from your hair and make you glide through the water easier and faster. It will also protect your hair from damage caused by the water!

on 3/10/2006 Remember Recovery Drill #1 and Recovery Drill #2? Recovery #1 is high elbow up before entering the water again with hand at 45 degrees. Doing this one after the other with both arms is not a "windmill" Windmill arms are out straight going in perfect circular rotation. Proper arm recovery with reference to the Freestyle Stroke is a very postural (form) sensitive movement. Swimmers will eventually injure their shoulders or cause undue stress on the shoulder if they are mimicking the movement of constant "windmills".

on 11/22/2005 When swimming the Freestlye you SHOULD NOT cup your hands. IN doing so, you are decreasing the surface area of you hand therefore decreasing the force the apply to the water. If you ever get the chance to watch any of the oylmpic swimmers swim, you will notice that all of them have their hands flat, and their thumbs fully seperated from their pointer finger.
These are the true fast hands of swimming.

on 11/22/2005 In the water, you must make yourself as relaxed as possible to ensure that all your effort and concentration goes into the freestyle stroke, and making it one complete movement!