Common Freestyle Breathing Mistakes

Common mistakes that can trouble freestylers during the breathing portion of the stroke. Whether you're just learning to swim, or are already a seasoned pro, these tips will have you breathing easier in no time.
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[@batlin]

Not even 3 minutes long yet this is packed with extremely important information. I wish more videos were done like this. Looking forward to hitting the pool tomorrow now!

[@richarddury1]

THIS WORKS FOR ME: I found regulating breath-intake difficult; then I thought that perhaps I could learn from how I breathe when SINGING. This too also involves taking a quick breath of as much air as you plan to use and then controlling the exhaling. So I started to sing "to myself" as I swim-easier because I breathe every four strokes, and there are a lot of songs in 4/4 so one line of the song will work out as one cycle of strokes (I started with "Up a Lazy River"). It works really well-helps you relax, coordinate movement and, if you think of singing to yourself around the house at a low volume (not reaching the back of an opera house), it helps you take small breaths too. And it's fun.

[@4daveb]

2.46 minutes of simple but sound advice. The exhalation advice is a gamechanger for me and everything else has just clicked into place. Top man

[@vincam4674]

Love it! the best short and sweet explanation I've seen so far on how to breath correctly when freestyling.

[@parkyounghoun]

This is the best teaching for good freestyle swimming. When i was beginner, i had watched it but just had thought that it was just a drill. But now I can understand this is the best and all of swimming.

[@VoxEOD]

Thanks for the excellent tips! You answered the exact questions I had going into my search as I try to learn how to swim laps efficiently.

[@johnswimcat]

Great video. After years of British masters swimming I am trying to correct the many faults in my freestyle (front crawl) stroke and this is really helpful

[@rocastro9810]

I'm not new in swimming but had not done it in many years. Lately I decided to swim again and realized I'd forgot how to breathe right when doing freestyle. Great info! Thanks for the video!

[@ldgnotebook]

I saw this one 7 years ago and forget to say thank you, my boy at 5th grade can swim half a mile in ymca, 25 yards length for 32 laps, contest. Totally worked. Very grateful.

[@aapc]

Excellent video. I will watch several times and try to follow the instructions. Thanks.

[@MegaBigboost]

Thank you sir, just what I needed to know

[@mjallen343]

Great tips, I have been holding my breath until end of second stroke. I will try continuous exhale now and hope to improve!

[@ldgnotebook]

Great lesson . Very helpful for me, my kids, my niece to use this technique to practice and it works. Thanks a lot.

[@tharadon1]

Excellent video. My time was well-spent. Thank you.

[@raginityagi7695]

these techniques are amazing i could do 20 laps instead of my usual 13......IN JUST ONE DAY ...thankx man

[@vassi5725]

thanks again for the tip for the freestyle in swimming

[@daphne8228]

I find this video very helpful. I didn't know that I've been doing some things wrong lol. Thank you for this!

[@chame26]

Thank you finally someone that explain how to properly breath

[@ryanw903]

this video is exactly what i need thanks!!

[@swiminlovelyplace5203]

Very well explained ! Thanks

[@indyd1534]

Thank you, This video was just what I needed. Gotta thank Coach lilonga😊 I over rotate, gotta try this drill.

[@adambahriz7764]

thanks man, I overroll a LOT, this will help

[@soundcanal]

great stuff! Thanks.

[@stephenross7663]

Thanks for the advice!

[@linwanritu]

Great tips and easy to apply!

[@sumontomasud2093]

many thanks sir, it's really working ...

[@joejayno]

Awesome I think I got it now. I will try it tomorrow

[@YibYibYibYib]

Great advice! Thanks.

[@siddhu0866]

Excellent tips. Thank you!

[@AaAa-ct5pe]

Thank you for this information .

[@MrTuireland]

Very good advice Thanks for posting

[@ArpanDasRockstar]

Thank you for your nice massage.

[@chelleum]

Great advice! I'm having a hard time get a breathe, but now I see what I'm doing wrong.

[@user-gm3iy3pw1m]

Thanks much!

[@kbain10]

Great lesson. Thank you.

[@rockstarstephy1]

Thanks! Beginning swimmer, but I've been in water polo.

[@stephanm.tjaden3887]

A good video, I always struggle with proper breathing form while swimming.

[@ananthan786]

need to perfect this,was a helpful video,will comment after next drill

[@edwardhaughney9665]

Impressive presentation.

[@sambou6286]

Thanks ! very informative

[@RicardoCorralArmas]

Great!...Thank you!

[@Jeremy-yb5yo]

No.3 is a game changing point for me!

[@CitizenOvTheWorld]

Thanks, don't know what happened, but simply lost all ability to remember how I'd always been breathing. So helpfull, thank-you ever so much for the reminders.

[@frafranildo]

Thank you!

[@OZYZO1]

Very helpfull. Thanks..

[@kvinay]

Great tips. I'll see how I can use this tips today in the pool.Need some tips on how to get that chin low which is so tough especially for beginners.

[@YTS_Boom]

Thanks

[@wongj1025]

Good practice!

[@neotock]

Thank you ! Very useful

[@12themilkman]

Very helpful! I find that sometimes while I'm trying to improve other areas of my front crawl technique, that I'm holding my breath! :/ It has decreased the distance by which I can swim by about half at times. When you start to get winded this way...recovering from it creates all sorts of bad technique, further draining your energy needlessly. I find that I'm constantly thinking about my legwork...I'm probably kicking too often and draining my energy there as well.

[@DanNoz]

great video thanks for sharing.

[@urdmusic]

Very helpful thank you

[@msriri96]

thanks for the video! really helpful :)

[@Slenderman.]

THIS HELPED SO MUCH WITH EXHALING I WAS EXHALING THROUGH MY MOUTH TY

[@user-wn4wr5lq6k]

Wow. I think you use gliding. Your pose is good. When you conduct water, your power is really good. Thank you for post good video. I think I learn something useful.

[@wangchairman1450]

This was a really helpful video.............

[@peteroakes9007]

Thank you for this helpful video.

[@rambostalin7162]

Peter Oakes vbgnbn

[@naugxp6]

Great instructions！

[@RickMartinYouTube]

very helpful

[@saravanan335]

Helpful video

[@NicoleBeckfordfitness]

best explanation

[@derekmusic5753]

That just turning your chin part 💯 Thank you

[@islambek2712]

Super video. Every aspect is to the point. Thanks!

[@USMastersSwimming]

You are very welcome. Make sure to subscribe! We produce a new video each month.

[@islambek2712]

@@USMastersSwimming Done! My bad hadn't done it before!

[@shujaabbasnaqvi2001]

thank you

[@AnujSharma-nc4sl]

This was really helpful to me :)

[@wstallion100]

awesome video

[@peppepinz2886]

thank you for such an interesting video;)

[@VishalLandge]

Thanks for the video. Very useful tips

[@USMastersSwimming]

We will see you in the pool soon!

[@INTERNA9]

Great !

[@DSKim-ej5uf]

very good!

[@SophiaLenore]

Awesome - we like it ☺

[@julittok]

I keep swallowing water if a keep one goggle under the whater, I don't know what to do

[@AbhijeetNagre]

julittok Same here.

[@AristarchFootler]

It might have something to do with your stroke. If you slow down to take a breathe water will mostly likely rush in, but if you keep a steady pace it'll smoothly create an air pocket. I had the same problem a week ago.

[@rhynoelee5633]

Just think about it!

[@JianZhouVA]

julittok keep kicking while turning to the side and breathing.

[@TELEVISIBLE]

I hate it , I am drinking lots of pool water doing free style :(

[@BakuBostonBikeway]

Super!

[@samuelzatko]

This was a really helpful video thanks l!

[@REDFANGDALLRED]

Nice video.

[@debverine]

thanks a ton sir :)

[@any2xml]

Thanks for the tips. After many many years, I finally leaned to breathe through my mouth. In our 75' pool, I need to pause and take a few breaths before completing the lap. I am not breathing through my nose. It seems, I need to exhale through the nose AS WELL so when I come up for air, I can take in through mouth as well as nose. Is this right?

[@debbieowen7403]

Good!!!

[@srijanagrawal4591]

does the 4th point of yours(exhaling through nose) also apply to 50m freestyle events?do reply.thanks in anticipation!

[@oustedaccount5612]

i dont usually open my mouth when i breath then i stop at 25 meters in 50meterpool ill try this thanks great help

[@athenasawsumtv]

Thanks! I'm always over rolling. That's why my arms keep crossing thank you

[@Vova3iLvova]

kinda perfected my right side . can breath in and see everything underwater with left eye while inhaling now i have do it all over again for left side)) which means gonna drink half of the pool again )) freaking hate it , my stomach will bloat and hurt after each practice again

[@gil658]

HAha I don't know if I drink that much, but it does suck when I take a gulp of water

[@Goucvdidah]

Exhale, Exhale, Exhale. Thank you. Im 37 years old and still trying to swim and breath at the same time.

[@pakoozala6012]

I love swimming

[@rodgerstobiko4862]

am a put this to the test,sounds legit

[@mekaiigurung3582]

i haven't figured out, why do my whole head immerse inside water while doing freestyle swimming. Is there any way to keep some part of it in the air? Thanks

[@georgi0]

can all these applied to open sea swimming?

[@freerhymin4life]

Wow, now I know why I never can do freestyle for too long. My breathing sucks, which tires me out so quickly. Good tips.

[@Kyle_Butterfield81]

I'm excited to try this. My goal this year is to become a stronger swimmer, and I can only do about 10 laps with rest time in between. I always feel like I'm getting fatigued, and I figured it was because of my lack of continuous oxygen, so this confirmed that. I didn't realize the pocket of air was there. I feel like I'm always gasping for air, even right after taking a breath. So it could be a combination of me holding my breath too long, and also the fact that I'm out of shame, haha. Thanks for the instruction! I'll give it a go.

[@JihadAlAnsari]

Are you a better swimmer than before now?

[@onthetrailwithcoolsocks6628]

Any thoughts on using a decongestant before swimming?

[@infinitotourismo]

I learned something.

[@dushtubabin]

I only recently learnt swimming and while I can easily exhale through the nose when I first start, when I take my head out to get more air, when I bring it into the pool again, I find it extremely difficult to exhale through the nose and wind up holding my breath until I bring my head back up and eventually have to stop because I end up getting water either up my nose or swallow a little bit of it. Any way to correct that?

[@andreigamaletz]

Hi!I have found out that if you turn your head with the mouth just 1 cm above the water surface and you don't raise your forehead out of the water,there is much lower drag that taking the head completely out of the water.I also foud out that moving your head as little as possible,keeps the drag to a minimum and thus a constant speed thru water.

[@superseiyan]

I'm stuck, I've been trying to learn breathing for almost a year. I have the unfortunate body type that sinks, don't know if that's the issue. Also seems each time I "turn" to breathe, I gulp water....dont' know if its because I'm rushing it or if it's my sinking problem.

[@carynalulic2784]

nice

[@makeupbysophiecutler7503]

Really helpful :) I Love swimming and am getting back into it after a few lazy years off (woops). One of my main issues is breathing, unfortunately i seem to struggle to time breathing alongside my strokes (front crawl normally) and this means i'm almost always having to stop after only one length to catch my breath :/ Also does anyone else find that when they try not to lift their head too far out of the water they end up with a mouthful of the water? :( xx

[@Gaurav.P0]

Are you still learning swimming?

[@MrDpsc]

I tried doing this (constantly enhaling) and while I always had breath, it seemed as if my body had way too much oxygen and everything felt weird. I tried it for about a km, then went back to my old bad habbit of starting to exhale the stroke before you'll enhale. What did I do wrong?

[@Kim-fs3gn]

my mistake..thanks a lot

[@vassi5725]

mistakes is so awesome to learn we want a mistake that you can learn from it then you can do better

[@daniellejunejomoc9254]

Wow I've been corrected many times through this vid, firstly, with the breathing that turning almost my whole head back to the surface because I thought if my face would still be with the waters some water will rush to my mouth while inhaling.

[@USMastersSwimming]

So glad the video helped! Check out more technique videos on our dedicated Freestyle Playlist. Or, subscribe to our channel and you will get alerts when we post new content!