Freestyle breathing must be straight, low, and fast. The breath...
Andrew Sheaff@AndrewKSheaff
46 views
Feb 26, 2026
~1 min read
1
Freestyle breathing must be straight, low, and fast.
The breath needs to be fast and fit within the rhythm of the stroke without disrupting it.
That rhythm is what allows swimmers to hold faster stroke rates.
The breath also needs to be low and straight.
The breath needs to be fast and fit within the rhythm of the stroke without disrupting it.
That rhythm is what allows swimmers to hold faster stroke rates.
The breath also needs to be low and straight.
2
The head turns just enough to clear the mouth and then returns right back to neutral.
When swimmers lift or crank the head, they will lose their alignment.
That disrupts the stroke and often disrupts propulsion as the head pulls the body and the arms out of position.
When swimmers lift or crank the head, they will lose their alignment.
That disrupts the stroke and often disrupts propulsion as the head pulls the body and the arms out of position.
3
A straight, low, fast breath lets swimmers get air without losing speed.
The less the breath disrupts the stroke, the faster they’ll swim.
The less the breath disrupts the stroke, the faster they’ll swim.
4
Great underwater kicking skills and speed don’t happen by chance.
They happen with a plan that may take years to play out.
The skills, the strategies, the sets, the progressions.
It’s what it takes to make it happen.
They happen with a plan that may take years to play out.
The skills, the strategies, the sets, the progressions.
It’s what it takes to make it happen.