Posts about swimming technique and mechanics
You can run several miles. You ride your bike regularly. You work out three or four times a week. Then you get in the pool, swim 50 yards of freestyle, and find yourself hanging on the wall trying to catch your breath. You might be asking yourself: “Why do I…
Most swimmers try to improve by focusing on isolated pieces: “Kick more.” “Pull harder.” “High-elbow recovery.” The problem? None of those fixes work if the foundation isn’t there. Our Balance-Streamline-Propel Framework is the key to understanding what you need to focus on to become a better swimmer. A Better Way…
You’re swimming but not getting better. You’re certainly showing up to the pool. Two, maybe three times a week. You’re putting in the effort. You’re swimming laps. So why does it feel like nothing is changing? You’re not alone. This is one of the most common frustrations we see from…
For many adult swimmers, one of the first decisions is whether to do solo swim training or join a large group Masters or Triathlon Club swim training class. On first glance, joining a Masters team or triathlon swim class feels like the obvious next step. Structured workouts. A coach on…
When parents look for swim lessons for their children, they often look at the type of facility when deciding on the best pool environment for children swim lessons. many assume that learning in a large, traditional pool is the best—or only—way for children to become strong swimmers. When parents tour…
Breathing is supposed to help you swim — but for many adults, it’s the part of freestyle that causes the most stress. Missed breaths, rushed head turns, lifting the head too high, or holding the breath too long can quickly turn an otherwise solid stroke into a struggle. The good…
Swim lessons are one of the best investments you can make in your child’s safety, confidence, and skill development. But what many parents don’t realize is this: what your child does between lessons is just as important as what they do in class. You don’t need a backyard pool.You don’t…
At Chicago Blue Dolphins, we are repeatedly asked the question, “How long does it take to learn to swim as an adult?” It’s important to think of learning to swim as a journey rather than a task. The good news is the journey is faster, smoother, and more predictable than…
Once you’re comfortable in the water, the next step isn’t “jump into freestyle.” You need to move into a phase of stroke development for adult swimmers. It’s in this phase that you learn the body positions and timing that make freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke, and butterfly feel natural and sustainable. Moving…
Most swimmers think pacing comes from a pace clock or a watch.But the best swimmers pace from the inside out. That’s where RPE — Rate of Perceived Exertion — in swimming comes in. RPE in swimming will act as your internal speedometer, teaching you to feel effort instead of guessing…
