5 Surprising Ways to Improve Your Freestyle Time - Tested!

Turn your freestyle into effortless freestyle with the ES membership:
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[@4-SeasonNature]

1. Point feet toes back, not down. 2. Point fingers down after reaching out. 3. Bring hips up. 4. Reach fingers forward while getting hands-arms in, not above, the water, then point fingers down. 5. Pull arms all the way through the back. 6. Bonus : Accelerate through stroke.

[@teamofsteve]

Thanks to these videos I've gone from swimming 50m and feeling exhausted, to swimming 400m and feeling quite relaxed. It's not fast but it's getting faster. At 46 years old, I'm actually enjoying swimming for the first time in my life, and not stuck doing breaststroke all the time.

[@kuladeeluxe]

Try swimming with a snorkel. I really enjoy this. Seems to me it makes things a lot less of a struggle.

[@teamofsteve]

@@kuladeeluxe I’ve seen a few people using a snorkel in the pool. But the thing is that swimming isn’t a struggle any longer now that I finally have my breathing sorted and position improved. I’ll be back in the pool tomorrow, want to focus on arm position during the pull and a fuller stretch. Already looking forward to it.

[@sammyj3048]

I only learnt to swim 4 years ago and I’m 46 now. I did it for health reasons. Autoimmune arthritis. The best thing I did was join a triathlon club. We have coached session’s each week. I started in the bottom lane but have worked my way up to the fast lane. Wish I did it years ago but I’ve done it now and it’s improved my life a great deal. Happy swimming and best wishes

[@nosliwm]

The person painting the outside of your windowsill is a nice touch. 😂

[@Damian_Oficiall]

😂😂

[@richardwilliams2093]

😂😂

[@oliverwahrstotter53]

effortlessswimming miyagi edition!

[@motofunk1]

I swim 42% faster wearing fins.

[@katemacdonald9602]

Lol

[@TomasMacek-go2me]

But if you point them down and if you manage to be as fast as normal, you'll become a whole lot stronger! 😂

[@thejamesinator17]

142%*

[@mauriciojr8332]

😂

[@jonathansale4336]

Bwahahaha!

[@iwonahunter3350]

Thank you!! 🥰Great tips!!

[@iangraham9050]

These videos are extremely helpful. At 64 and only started swimming (breaststroke only) last Aug, I never thought I could ever swim front crawl. Today, I managed 30 lengths of front crawl, albeit only 2 lengths at a time - baby steps - but enjoyed it immensely. Thanks for posting these great tips.

[@Fernando31611]

I was the contrary! I only learned freestyle... last week I started with breastroke!

[@scottreutter]

Awesome video. Pointing the toes is a good reminder!

[@robweinberg9396]

gem of a video. will be working on these "tips" for the rest of my swim life.

[@MrRiocomprido]

Very Good!

[@hugoapresname]

👍When I realized that I always tried to *minimise the effort* of the pull of the arm through the water, and when I started *PULLING* with my hand and forearm, then I really started to swim. Before I was just *floating* 😅 And ‘stroking the cat’ Thank you *very* *very* much, my swimming, but furthermore my health improved a lot by videos like Yours. Bless You !!! ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@kuladeeluxe]

Excellent tips, Thanks

[@robohippy]

The relaxed ankle in the flutter and dolphin kicks works IF you have very flexible ankles. If you have stiff ankles and try to keep your ankles relaxed as you kick, generally you will have about a 30 degree or so bend in your ankle while kicking which creates more drag. I am one of those people. Going pigeon toed gives you another 10 or so degrees of toe point. I have to focus on my toe point. You can get used to that calf cramp, well get rid of it by practicing that way. While swimming my over arm side stroke, I see everything in the pool. Not getting full extension is a major flaw in most peoples arm stroke. As is entry too soon, most of the time, and too late seldom. Hand and arm position is all over the place. It is always nice to see some one who really knows how to swim, and it stands out.

[@purgostevejohal5771]

5:10, the window cleaner goes home 😁 properly distracted me. Great tips here, thanks!

[@jenniferandrus6167]

I was wondering if I was the only person that went all ADD on that? I thought he was painting though haha

[@luc4662]

I think he’s painting the wall behind.

[@peterward2845]

Came here to comment “who dat stalker out there?!”

[@davidthorn6126]

@@peterward2845 they prefer the term 'non-paying subscriber'

[@kaylanorman7466]

Came here to comment the same 😂 who’s painting outside?

[@hatpeach1]

So impressed, even though you are just doing "talking head" videos. I've gone from not-a-swimmer to confident freestyler in just a few weeks. THANK YOU!

[@hatpeach1]

@@bastogne315 1600m in 40 min. Not Mark Spitz, but not bad for an old guy!

[@motioninmind6015]

Love your content. The biggest aha moment for me was when someone told me to *really* keep my head down and look at the bottom of the pool, because of the extended effect on my entire body posture. When I got that mastered, my whole experience in the water changed. What I mean is, it can often be one little element of your personal style that's holding you back and having a ripple effect on your whole experience. And your videos are super valuable in this way 👍🏻

[@movingsaudade6028]

Until I went on holiday and they kept asking me why I don't swim with my head above water😢

[@Jacob_Dwyer]

Relatively new water polo player here, getting my chops by hacking my way through the water. All of this makes sense, and I have already received some of these tips. I am getting competitive in my sprints, and not just getting blown out of the water on counters. Thanks Effortless Swimming (I am 47 and started at 45, after not really swimming since the 8th grade)

[@tash4122]

Awesome vid B . Great checklist 😎😎😎🏊🏊‍♀️

[@barrymiller99]

This is superb. Thank you!

[@fredbergeron7997]

Amazing tips. I learned to swim as an adult in just a few months from your videos and drills. Amazing work!

[@elad_sefarad]

That's the first video I see on KZbin about swimming that's really informative and professional

[@territsugai491]

A nice manatee grey color to go with improve one's stroke!

[@Will-cf8hc]

What about arm position in relationship to other arm ? Stretch arm vs power arm ? Seems to varíe with different swim channels!

[@josefertrujillo]

Excellent, thank you very much!

[@keepleft99]

what is a good distance per stroke?

[@2ndbar]

Is it common for your armpit to make a loud pop right next to your ear? How do you stop it?

[@MichaelJanzer]

Btw, just want to give the camera man massive props for being able to swim and record at the same time

[@MB-ix6rc]

Hey Brenton, great channel and content. Especially the water feel and body position. I was an East Gippsland swimmer around your age back in the day. Awesome to see you take the family tradition to the next level and beyond. Cheers Matt

[@leesystems]

Interested in me getting coached. I am almost 63, started open water races going on 7 years ago. Never competed before that. Moved my mile time from 51 minutes down to 30:24, in optimal no-current lake conditions. Want to get it down to 24 minutes. I was a foot dragger. Incrementally improving every aspect of my stroke so this is great info. Side benefits - back feels better, core is strong, lost fat weight, Blood Pressure is at the bottom of ideal range, heart rate has dropped from 80 to the 50’s resting rate. Cholesterol in ideal range with an over the top good cholesterol. Tremendous gain in energy level, and great stamina. Ready for bed at night and sleep better.

[@profitsandloss]

That’s amazing! I started swimming at 40 earlier this year and I’ve already seen some of these benefits. Swimming is a great sport!

[@oscardelatorre2325]

Cheers 🎉 from Mexico you are the best coach

[@alisonwilks302]

Overly video ❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@mugurelbudara4028]

all makes sense to me except point 3... not sure what pressing on the chest means. I also see that the reach out helps me with the rotation.

[@BefriendWater]

I'm 5ft 7 so it's hard to be long for me lol 😅 But your advice helped me so much already! Thanks for the awesome videos 💪

[@1H085]

I'm 5'9" and my stroke length/rate is similar to guys 6" taller because I have spent time learning & practicing - persevere! (they are faster because they kick 6bt which I'm not currently fit enough for, so 2bt for me, but with pull buoys it's even!) 🔱

[@PompeyBoy66]

Great tips. Thanks mate from 🇬🇧

[@maxdoble61]

My toes point to the bottom of the pool, because running and cycling has made my ankles less flexible. I have to actively keep my feet in a better position, which makes the legs stiffen. Currently using flippers to help improve flexibility.

[@kalosp1]

Watching your clips with so much attention... to the degree that the painter /outside of the window/ distract me /1:45/ :)

[@7amza98]

I think this is my first ever youtube comment. I just came back from my swimming session and your tips really helped! It’s the best i feel after swimming!

[@fastbreakr]

I swim faster when there are sharks in the water

[@zackone6829]

😂😂😂

[@Syntropicfarming]

And then Rest In Peace bro 😂

[@Amigo_SSS]

😂😂😂

[@MarkLRandall]

Great tips! I've had both calf and foot cramps when trying to point my toes.

[@luzandro6420]

yeah, I'm still struggling with how to keep my feet relaxed while pointing the toes. It's one or the other for me

[@Rikki-lh2mw]

Same here mate with cramps

[@deniselimby7355]

Wow! I cannot believe how awakened and renewed I felt after this short practice

[@nscalewunderland]

Awesome video! Your explanations are truly the best … thank you! And looks like you got your house painted while you filmed this one … was that a brush roller outside your window?!

[@ColeHarrison-rz5sr]

Hey I’m 13 and I’ve been swimming for a few years to now but have just recently taken it super seriously. I go a 1:15 100 free but when I put a pull boy on it seems like I float so much better I know I’m probably just doing something rlly simple wrong but does anyone have any tips?

[@1H085]

Are you holding breath, making chest more buoyant? Try breathing out continuously under water except when breathing in (as a drill to see if adapting your breathing slightly will help). Is it better when you breathe every 2 vs 3/4/5 strokes? 🔱

[@wranglercycling6420]

#2 is hardest ever...!

[@lindafoley8730]

How important is it to keep the fingers closed and to look to the bottom of the pool?

[@nancytripp2024]

Thanks Effortlet's! echoes what your previous advice: strive to Swim above the surface, as much as your best, at least for breath ( 'O2' free weapon)! It all works. (To amend: those Glides, underneath the surface, of course)! Plus: some necessary weight loss + grow muscles.

[@stefanebner1051]

Hallo ! Könntest du Videos mit deutschen Untertitel machen ? Mit freundlichen Grüßen

[@anastasiawinslow5737]

Finding #3 - proper balance - challenging to achieve. What are the best drills to improve balance ?

[@Greenmoon413]

Super helpful

[@bc7520]

You say slow ...or slower to fast....on the pull through. Does that apply to the 50 free as well?

[@EffortlessSwimming]

Yes but less obvious with the change in speed and you do not slow down much at all during the reach phase

[@macster1000]

I just wonder what I can do to get this flexibility in my feet. I am already checking out ballett videos. So far without success. Any idea, what I can do as I am comming from running

[@TomasMacek-go2me]

It's Dan, no worries, that's extreme. But I envy him too! 🙂He's absolutely excellent with the technique!

[@petergoodwin4652]

Kneel on a mat with your toes pointing back and gradually let your weight press on your heels You may not get down at first but don't force it. Practice squatting like that for longer periods.

[@cal2780]

I do standing heel/ toe lifts, working up to 2 minutes and then more heel/toe lifts on a foam balance mat. Standing: up on toes, back on heels.. works muscles you weren't aware of😊Calf extensions (pumps) on the gym equipment, (ankle pumps/windshield wipers while sitting -- while watching TV or just sitting waiting for the doctor. I had my right hip replacement surgery October 10 and these moves help with balance, flexibility and strengthening.

[@YeboMate]

Love your videos, as a beginner swimmer your videos has given my a lot to work on each couple of sessions and makes swimming really exciting. I can't swim far yet but I find myself able to swim breaststroke for longer than freestyle. When I swim freestyle, originally my legs would get tired first and thanks to your videos that's no longer the case, instead now after swimming 100m of freestyle my shoulders seem to get tired before being tired from a fitness perspective (e.g. I could keep going but in breaststroke). What I would like to know is, with my shoulders being tired so quickly, in general do you reckon that's more to do with technique (no doubt my technique can be improved) or is it just a matter of having to keep swimming more in freestyle and build up my shoulder muscles?

[@Menelaos_Nanas]

1. Someone is outside your window 2. The painting on the wall needs straightening 😉😉😉 As always your advice is excellent ! ! !

[@catchyoulater.5836]

Hi. I’m 66 yrs old and can swim front crawl over good distances, 4kms plus. But from years of trail running my ankles are tight, thus toes point down. I swim around 2mins 15secs per 100m. I would like to improve my pace, but is it worth for me to try and stretch my ankles at this point? Thanks for your videos.

[@1H085]

I have a friend with ankles so inflexible that he can go backwards if he kicks hard & pulls gently 😂 search up some ankle flexibility drills/stretches - it'll work wonders! 👍🏻🔱

[@1H085]

How's your 100m pace with a pull-buoy? 🔱

[@sujstet]

Good tips... I have seen your stroke which is quite there... Only your left hand elbow drops a tiny bit after reaching out and then you adjust and get that really nice EVF... Is it natural to do that as I sometimes have a tendency to do that as well?

[@JorgeRzezak]

Hi Brenton, thank you for your video. I have a question, why you did not mention rotation? I think rotation is also a main point for improving speed. Do you agree?

[@blakebarrilleaux8073]

What's the right hander behind you ?

[@EffortlessSwimming]

Bells beach

[@findlayshilton1085]

Mate, Love all your advice!! Just wondering if you haven't already, can you do a Profile/Breakdown of your FAVORITEST FREESTYLER of all time please. I'm a New Zealander and I still rate Ian Thorpe as the Greatest!! But I also have a soft spot for our very own DANYON LOADER. If Danyon Loader was an Australian or from the good old USA he would still be talked about. Thanks Mate

[@user-yy3em8jb6h]

いつも有効なボディポジションの説明を有り難うございます。 頭、腰、足が骨盤後傾によりまっすぐ水面下で泳ぐことができますね。 私は、ストレートアームで泳ぐとき、手先が遠くに入水しようとして、肘を高く保つことができないので、少し手前に入水させることが必要ではないかと考えています。 アドバイスよろしくお願いいたします。🎉🎉🎉

[@33Jenesis]

I like ballet classes, doing a lot of toe pointing flexing extension and ankle rotation. I find that ballet helps my feet in swimming. I also visualize fish in water how it uses tail to propel. Half of my body from waist down the energy and movement should be fluid like ribbon moving in air. It is bones joints muscle all work as one to move in water with momentum balance and propulsion.

[@americanboy7040]

Any tips, suggestions or advice for shoulders rotations and motion. My right shoulder doesn’t rotate properly when I recover. My right hand will not pass by my hip-chest-shoulder when I recover!

[@RicardGomes76]

Those "lap swimmers, doing laps" like you said sarcastly they probablly are long distances swimmers. So they ONLY are being inteligent doing the shorter lenght arm in order to go slower, not being tired and NOT DAMAGE THE SHOULDERS. So maybe you wanna... correct some stuff about what you said in this vid.

[@bboba123]

The title of the video is how to improve your time. ie speed. So this comment doesn’t apply.

[@titusfx]

I read in the past that the legs only given you 20% of your total speed. Which means, if you use your legs you increase in 20% ur speed. So, its weird to hear that pointing down will decrease your speed to 22%

[@sirmanni4534]

Swimming 🏊‍♀️ seems like it mimics digging through the ground horizontally

[@sirmanni4534]

HHH ocean motion

[@FunkZoneFitness]

I’m here for the guy painting outside

[@scktdg]

Hi there! Thank you for your videos. They are really helpful but would have been great if you start to implement some breaststroke technique tips. And please, tell us how to make swimming fun for children. I think that swimming is one of the most difficult sports to make it fun. You are just going through two walls but children need FUNdamentals! Thank you!

[@MountainVisions]

Wear fins. Guarantee you cut significant time off your laps

[@Claire_16]

Number 6, swim in a shorter pool. I've had to swim in a 20m pool this winter and I'm smashing all my records on my Garmin 🤣🤣 - I'll get a shock in spring when it's back to the 50m pool 😮

[@deepsgnips]

I listen to this video Think i do every single tip Still i am slow as an injured snail

[@user-ks3gm2uu3r]

hi My height is 160cm And I am swimming for last 8months can I win nationals And my Age is 20Years Old

[@robjones3420]

This is such a great video. I worked on my feet position and I e dropped 5 sec per 100m.

[@valbonkapaza5103]

42% faster compared to people who cannot swim.

[@drewa1999]

Wait, if putting your feet to the bottom of the pool does increase drag by 40% and mimics a parachute wouldn't be helpful to intentionally do some sets like this to build up the strength the parachute would normally give you and then revert back to the described footing here?

[@nancytripp2024]

World Aquatics Championships - Doha 2024: men’s 4x100m freestyle relay: with the opening world-record lead, (in '3:11.08') all the first three (of team China) seemed to swim as much as if on the surface; the fourth (of team China) is 'all muscles'. We may, if appropriate, need to ask Popovici: how could they learn from him, exceedingly-skinny but super-speedy.

[@EXPLORADVEN]

👌👌👌👊👊👊🏊🏊🏊❤️❤️❤️👌👌👌

[@bzo1327]

Short of breaking my ankles, I can’t make them bend as easily as the swimmer in your video. I have tried endless stretching over the years, endless attempts at toe pointing - but that leads to cramp or is just plain uncomfortable. Simply put, in skeletal terms, my feet and ankles cannot attain that amount of looseness or horizontality. There needs to be some recognition that this idea of toe pointing may not be physically possible in some cases.

[@McNultyoh]

I make all these mistakes !

[@CrowdControlFTW]

First.

[@arturisko]

I second this

[@bretzky9261]

How come you aren't coaching your son? Lol.

[@frozen_jug_band]

Tell me you don’t have kids without telling me you don’t have kids 😂

[@EffortlessSwimming]

@@frozen_jug_band Haha - IFYKYK. Good luck getting your own 7-year-old to listen to you

[@Randsurfer]

"Surprising"?

[@The_Cptn_Louk]

This routine is nothing hard, and by no any means will make you rich. I have a similar routine for years now, doing really good in my life but nothing extraordinary money wise. In fact, I know broke people with the same routine. Working hard from 3 am, being jacked, reading books being broke.

[@bernym4047]

Where to begin? I get really annoyed with most 'swimming tips' youtube videos. Why? Because the initial premise of all swim coaching is that everyone wants to increase their speed. I am 73 years old. I swim to maintain my health and to achieve this I have developed a front crawl style that is relaxed and not very fast. OK mr coach you think 'ah yes but you are an exception'. NOT IN MY EXPERIENCE. My local pool is populated by mostly retired people. Most of these swim longer distances but not fast. I aim to swim 2.5 km per day and am faster than most of my compatriots. But that's a product of aiming for efficiency so that I can swim for longer to improve my cardio vascular efficiency. Your first three tips (flatten feet, stop patting the cat and engaging core muscles) made total sense with me. And I have made improvements in my stroke by engaging core muscles. I will pay more attention to 'pointing my feet' and pointing my fingers to the bottom of the pool having watched this video. I feel I must mention something that has made a big difference to my speed without impacting on how much energy I use. That is an engineering term known as 'resonance' I have found that there is an ideal speed at which to swim to provide speed with saving energy. This means finding a rhythm that acts as a sort of pendulum effect. The net result is that the effort imparted in each arm stroke is reduced at the ideal 'resonant' speed and that is because you start each arm stroke earlier in the 'speed graph'. What do i mean by the 'speed graph'? Imagine you get prone in the water and take a single arm stroke. You will accelerate but only until the arm reaches the end of the stroke. If you then glide, you will gradually slow to a stop. However, If you start another arm stroke either at the end of the the first stroke or part way through the first stroke, you will maintain your speed (depending of the timing of the 2nd stroke). More importantly and perhaps most importantly, you give the 2nd stroke less effort because you are already moving through the water. it's rather like a child on a swing. Their father only needs a very small effort to maintain the swing once a certain frequency has been achieved. Anyway, thank you for the tips. I will try ti incorporate them. However, perhaps you are missing an audience concentrating on 'elite' swimmers when the majority of swimmers are over the age of majority. I often see 'elite swimmers' with their pool floats, pool fins, hand paddles and energy drinks zoom past me during my regular morning swim. Very, very few of them are still swimming at the end of my 2.5 kilometers .

[@leendegezelle9286]

thats disgusting