Never had any coaching on it (I didn’t swam OW competitively) but crocodile eyes into side breath feels to me, and thinking about it, a much more natural way. That’s purely anecdotal though rather than any good advice.
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Thanks for the very comprehensive response.
I’m kicking myself for not getting this done sooner. I’ve been for a taster session in the Swimmkanal before, but this is the first time that I have received the video analysis. It’s pretty clear where I can make improvements
If I travel 10cm further each stroke, through better efficiency, I would improve my pace by 10s/100m with no extra effort
Here’s a video of me from a sprint last year. I appreciate it’s not as easy to analyse form but I’d be interested to hear your comments. I can see my left arm windmills in and my head/body moves too much when breathing so I might work on a smoother breath. I know when I’m not concentrating it can cross my body when I breath. I think part of this is related to my shoulder which was reconstructed after an AC dislocation grade 5 so I’ve lost some strength to hold my body position (or it’s always been like that and I’m just making excuses!)
Slight misnomer, Improving swim technique isn’t “no extra effort”, especially applying a vertical forearm. If anything we’re providing ways to work harder.
Last year I had to learn how to do bike pedal upstroke. pedal stroke now looks a lot better on WB and I produce more watts. But it will probably seem obvious to you that my hamstrings hurt, and my pedal stroke falters when I get tired. This is effectively the same thing.
I’m being pedantic only because it was raised last week as well and I’m aware lots more people will read this thread. I don’t want them thinking that because it makes their forearms hurt more/feels worse therefore must be wrong advice for their stroke.
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You are right. I was refering more to the fact that there are parts of my technique and position that cause additional drag. One example is initiating the catch with hand above elbow means that for a moment I actually push into the direction of swim, rotating my head too much disrupts the flow of water around my body. By eliminating elements of my technique that add drag, I could potentially travel further with each stroke. I did notice in your video clip, that you are swimming 20 strokes per length, which is the same as I swim, so my logic may be false.
Cheers @Hammerer! I tried this during a quick swim at lunchtime and noticed an instant improvement. A while back I’d read/misintepreted something somewhere that lowering head would help raise the legs which sort of made sense, so was swimming looking straight down and therefore having to rotate and lift the head to breathe. Over the past year my kick’s got better, so lifting my head and looking forward made everything much easier today since legs are being taken care of by the kick, I even had the bow wave there so was getting nice clean breaths.
I think the low head position was also why I was feeling a bit dizzy when I tried to breathe every 2 rather than 3 strokes too - as I was moving the head quite a lot to achieve it.
Biggest difference was when I tried some sprints later on, was much less hypoxic feeling.
Love this thread and the advice being offered!
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Yeah you seem completely on board. I’m not usually so finicky, only that online communication can see things taken out of context/misunderstood (even when not talking about democracy) so wanted to spell out simply for benefit of others who may read. Especially considering the number of lurkers who will look here for beginner advice and may just take away snippets of the thread.
Also, I’m not sure which video clip you mean but I haven’t posted one of me. Your logic sounds fine, I take 13-14 strokes a length so shows improving distance you travel per stroke will help.
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You have NO place on a triathlon forum 
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forgive my use of the coach in question but for all his faults he knows triathlon
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Correction.
- I haven’t read it yet, sorry
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yer you nailed it . well not quite but yes swimming fucking hurts, if it dont you are doing it wrong…
oh and don’t pay people 100’s of pounds to tell you how to swim…maybe pay him instead…or me 
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I also toyed with this last night.
I must admit In the pool I tend to look straight down too. Tried looking around 5 meters ahead last night
Sorry, it was @d.t clip - he was swimming 1:10/100m which is pretty impressive from where I am sitting
There’s just about 1000 IMJers who need to read this… and I need to pay more attention to it as well
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It’s impressive from where I’m sitting! 
I was just about to ask if anyone was brave enough to post this on IMJ.
I nominate you as you’ve got previous and they already hate you 
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I think it would be rather appropriate for Dan Reef to do it
here goes
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Particularly like the “my coach” bit - nice touch. 
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I almost put I’m sure 50000 IMJ’ers could learn from this but didn’t want to be a full on troll
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Jesus wept, why did i go on that site again. We’ve got people asking questions about vibrating foam rollers, massage sticks and someone recommending buying 2nd hand running shoes for £140 . Are these people utter morons or are they all on a massive troll.
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