Freestyle Technique – High Elbow Position
Gary Barclay explains the importance of a high elbow position in both the arm recovery and under water pull when swimming freestyle. For more swimming freestyle tips go to www.SwimFreestyleFast.com. Hi, I’m Gary Barclay. We’re going to have a look at one of the most common problems in freestyle, and that is where a swimmer drops […]
How to improve my 50m breaststroke time?
QUESTION: Hello Gary My name is Sam and I am from this cold place called Ontario in Canada. I am a high school Breaststroker and I need to drop 1.4 seconds in 2 and a half months in 50m breaststroke short course to get a school record and make it to provincial A final. I go […]
How to fix arm going across body in Freestyle?
QUESTION: My 7 year old son is a keen swimmer and trains 3 times a week (7 – 9 km per week). He has a problem on his crawl whereby when breathing his arm on the opposite side crosses under his body. Can you tell me the best way the fix this ? Looking forward […]
Flip Turn in Breaststroke and Butterfly
QUESTION: Dear Gary, Could you please tell me why the flip-turn is not used in the breaststroke and butterfly? It seems strange to me, because the flip-turn seems more fluid and more fun to watch. Thanks… Wayne ANSWER: Hi Wayne, What a great question. I agree with your suggestion and have no doubt that sometime […]
Advice to Swim 800m under 14 minutes
QUESTION: Hi Gary, I’m currently training to do pro ocean lifeguarding for this upcoming season. I need to do my 800m pool swim in under 14mins. I’m a good swimmer and I currently swim this sort of time but I wish to improve. Can u give me any advise on how I should be training each week? […]
How to do your first 400m IM
QUESTION: Gary, Fantastic site, thanks for all your tips. Both my 10yr old boy and 5yr old girl practice fly using your stages technique. I have a question. My 10yr old boy wants to enter a 400IM at his County Championships in March 2014. He can swim a 200IM in 3:25 and 100IM in 1:28. […]
Top Five Competition Tips for Swimmers
1. Arrive on Time There is nothing worse for a swimmer than arriving late for warm-up for a competition. Lateness leads to an increase in anxiety for both the swimmer and the parent. For the athlete this will use up unnecessary energy before they even dive into the water to warm-up. At most swim meets coaches […]
How many swim practices should my daughter do?
QUESTION: Hi Gary, My 6 year old daughters are on the local swim club. It is the “seed” program for our local high school. We have not graduated any Olympians, over the years a handful of students have gone on to swim in college, we can place at states but I am not aware of […]
How to Pace 200m and 400m Events?
QUESTION: Hi Gary, I was just wondering how it is best to pace 400m freestyle and also the 200m’s free, back. breast. I am asking because I am a sprint swimmer I often find myself struggling with these distances which I think is probably due to my pacing. Thank You, James ANSWER: Hi James, The most […]
Why use Fins or Flippers when Swimming?
QUESTION: Hi Gary Can you please explain the reason why you use flippers when training? And is it better with flippers or with out? Anne ANSWER: Hi Anne, There are many reasons why flippers are used in swimming. These can be summarised as follows: Using flippers will improve a swimmers body position and their technique. When […]
