To swim fast freestyle, swimmers need to swim straight. Side to...
Andrew Sheaff@AndrewKSheaff
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Jan 10, 2026
~1 min read
1
To swim fast freestyle, swimmers need to swim straight.
Side to side motion creates drag and it also makes it more difficult to create propulsion.
That’s bad news.
Side to side motion creates drag and it also makes it more difficult to create propulsion.
That’s bad news.
2
When watching swimmers it’s important to be able to see whether swimmers are keeping everything moving straight down the pool, or if there’s unnecessary motion in the stroke.
Check out two of the fastest 100 freestylers in history.
Who keeps the head more in line?
Check out two of the fastest 100 freestylers in history.
Who keeps the head more in line?
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Who keeps the shoulders more in line?
Who keeps the hips more in line?
Who keeps the legs more in line?
Reducing drag is about doing less, not more.
Who keeps the hips more in line?
Who keeps the legs more in line?
Reducing drag is about doing less, not more.
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By being able to see subtle or even significant losses of alignment, it’s much easier to identify opportunities for faster swimming.
If you can see it in elite swimmers, it’s that much easier to see it in everyone else.
If you can see it in elite swimmers, it’s that much easier to see it in everyone else.
5
Execution is where the rubber hits the road in skill development.
The important work has to actually happen.
One of the best ways to help coaches focus on the right skills is by providing weekly guidelines for targeting skills.
The important work has to actually happen.
One of the best ways to help coaches focus on the right skills is by providing weekly guidelines for targeting skills.