Trip-Tips

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Swimming Straight

[update: July 26, 2006]

I have a simple question for you – it involves swimming straight in open water. My open water experience is limited and this was one of my biggest challenges today( in my race). I was pulling severely right and had to sight way too often (especially as I began to doubt myself). Do you have advice on how to correct this, including practice techniques and race-day ideas that can help? -Patrick

Patrick, I am sure this is frustrating! It sounds like you are stronger on your right side and possibly entering the water at different places with both hands rather than beginning your catch in parallel positions.

1. Swimming with paddles for a portion of your swim workout can help to eliminate any strength discrepancies, they will also force you to enter at a better leverage point in the water. I would not rely on them totally but use them as part of your workout to build strength balance- for a 3,000m workout use them 800-1,000 for example.

2. Have a friend film your stroke in the water so that you can observe where you are beginning your catch. Often times beginners will be crossing over their midline with one hand while entering more out to the side with the other, therefore causing your body to move towards one direction. Think about rowing a boat, if you pull harder on one oar or enter the water with one oar at a better leverage point, the boat is going to move in that direction. The same goes for your body in the water, you are noticing it much more without the swim lane lines to guide you. If you see that you are crossing over your midline with one hand, you need to work on correcting that by focusing on pulling it out to the side more.

3. Practicing in open water can help this issue a lot and over time you will get better and better at it swimming straight. The better you become at sighting (wich should only require a quick lift of the head before you turn your head to breathe) the more often you can do it to also help keep you in line. Make sure that you are also breathing bilaterally because breathing to one side only could also be causing some swerve. Good luck!