QUESTION:
Hi Gary,
How do I stop my legs from dragging low in the water when I’m swimming freestyle?
Thanks, Terry
ANSWER:
Hi Terry,
This is a common question from males particularly.
A humans centre of buoyancy is in their mid chest and their centre of gravity is closer to the chest than a man’s centre of gravity, leading to a lower leg position in the water.
The attached photo demonstrates this and is quite exaggerated compared with most swimmers.
Interestingly, in the Journal of Sports Sciences: by Scott P. Mcleana and Richard N. Hinrichsa
• tested the center of buoyancy in males and females vs. their kicking rate
• found that female’s center of buoyancy was higher up on their chest than on men’s (meaning that the males have more of a pivot point than females)
• as a result, males have to kick more than females to go the same distance
• this is because the females have a better level of balance while in the water
My suggestions are to:
1. really work on your kicking to be able to kick your legs up higher near the surface
2. make sure your head is down in a streamline position and not lifted slightly (as this will also cause your legs to drop)
Give this a try and let me know how you go?
Regards
Gary
The Swimming Expert
Comments are closed.