Why Your Freestyle Isn't Flowing | Unlock Your Natural Rhythm

[@cycleSCUBA]

4:55 is where I was going wrong. My arm was completing the stroke just as the other was entering the water! I had to change a lifetime of bad habit but it was worth it. Thanks 👍

[@aidanoc19]

I'm 48, never been an elite swimmer but the thing I love about it is exactly that 'losing yourself' in the rhythm you talk of. Will try this next time I hit the pool.

[@EffortlessSwimming]

Cue Eminem :)

[@cannonball9478]

His palms are sweaty…vomit in the pool from mom’s spaghetti 🍝 😜

[@tind95]

I'm back in the pool after 7 long years. I used to train water polo from a young age, and swimming as a child. Through your videos, all the memories of coaches from twenty+ years ago come back to me. Your tips help me a lot to get back in shape and change my swimming techniques from water polo to more efficient swimming techniques. Thank you so much and love from Croatia!

[@EffortlessSwimming]

thank you!

[@13klecan]

great video, one to come back to over and over. freestyle is difficult, for me, it has never been my easiest stroke. Freestyle is a stroke that really benefits from the “10,000 times/hours to become a master” rule. The more I concentrate on technique, work on drills, the better and smoother my freestyle becomes. I am lucky to swim with a master group and a great coach. Coaches are so good at catching minute problems that eventually deteriorate the stroke. I am always amazed at swimmers who listen to music while doing freestyle. Music is great for long kick sets, aqua jogging etc., but in freestyle, my mind is always thinking how to be smoother, feel the water, perfect the rhythm, find the catch, rotate correctly, not kick too much, etc. thks, and I am off to the pool!

[@bonzaralph]

Hey Brenton, Wow, Don’t need me to tell you but I’m so much happier since discovering this information channel so I’ve got to say it anyway… you analysis and instruction is spookily en pointe. But what do I know? After years of always trying really hard but struggling I am now swimming faster for less effort and now actually enjoying and looking forward to my sessions. Sometimes you find the key in the unlikeliest of places and I say that after watching through this video. With your help I have already discovered how to better enter at the start, the spear I call it, and the natural follow on from this is the accelerating through the various phases you describe here so I’m watching going right, right exactly so it compliments beautifully previous videos. I now have a foundation on which to build… funny as that’s almost verbatim something you just said too. Amazing amazing amazing!

[@EffortlessSwimming]

love this, thanks Ralph!

[@jammy-44]

Man, there is sooo much to think about with swimming. No wonder it’s so difficult to find that perfect technique 🤯

[@LakanLonyo]

"1,2,3,123"... sorted out my maths, my ballroom dancing and my crawl

[@jason81949]

Thank you very much for this video! I have been trying to figure out this part 4:08 for the past two weeks. Gona try that next time, hopefully I can find that timing. I got it today while swimming , and it makes breathing easier too. But later, I lost that rhythm. but you just explained it clearly now, so I will try again next time.

[@octjay]

Thanks!

[@clareanderson3964]

I've been swimming for a long time and making little changes. You broke it down in a very understandable way. Thank you.

[@SimonHarvey.Insight]

Great tips thank you, short and sweet. Love the 1-2.3 tip will check this out on tomorrow’s swim 🏊‍♀️ 👍🙏

[@christopherlangdon2892]

Subscribed…thank you for the clear instruction. After a 45 year break I’ve started swimming as my main fitness choice. I’m finding unending technical thoughts and challenges to maximizing my stroke. I enjoy thinking about it as I swim…it’s better than mindlessly lapping.

[@ck6285]

Love this video. It shows "the secret of swimming" in a simple and beautiful way. Thanks a lot!😊

[@yakiweiss546]

One of the best swimming tips I've seen here, Thanks!!

[@josotorres9643]

This is sp beautiful!! Thank you so much!! Much love from Florence, Italy. Here I swim at the Piscina Costoli, if you ever pass by! Grazie!❤

[@TheSomeone2009]

Love all your tips! Thanks a lot!

[@cannonball9478]

Great guide for the timing cheers

[@dannythegaminggeek]

the 123 counting thing worked well, too well. I did 50 like nothing, not tired at all. I then started to second guessing myself and messed it all up! Need more practice.

[@PSWong112]

I have learned a lot from your tips to coach my daughter. She is quite a good swimmer at 8 years old. Thanks !

[@functionalmovementcoaching9223]

Great tips, especially the slow to fast. This really helps with reducing shoulder and elbow strain.

[@richardsutherland9731]

Thank you. You are my early am daily swim coach andALWys helpful.

[@christophermccarthy6889]

Excellent instructional video brenton, 😊, lots to work on , Much Appreciated 😊

[@allezvenga7617]

Thanks for your great tips

[@IT-fr4wb]

mate, your usual top-of-t-class common sense info. bin a fan since I taught myself to swim freestyle 11years ago, got into open water events (had to add-on bilateral breathing) then had an aortic dissection +survived/ some recovery happened but ejection fraction still only 25% which is breathlessness/ fatigue. got back to swimming thanks to a pair of neoprene jammers which effectively lift my lower body into a more streamlined position ( I don’t have t breath to kick much at all). still loving my swimming, as you say; it’s all about feeling t water + finding t rhythm. thanks for what you do (Adam Walker is another input I rate) : )

[@alwayslearning4]

These are great tips. Useful for everyone trying to establish better flow in the water. I’m very much a treadmill swimmer right now. Looking forward to trying these drills tomorrow. Thanks!

[@60schld99]

Outstanding tips and explanation! I watched this before my workout this morning and it was amazing the improvement!! Thank you

[@PAMOJA4LIFE]

WOW... Amazing tips, Slow to fast, fingers first & elbows up, thank you,

[@sophiawright3421]

my number 1 tip would be to work on your kick - once you're able to kick through the breath while rotating in a consistent rhythm, you'll be able to figure out the rest of it and your stroke will feel smoother

[@adelnemes7306]

Excellent video, thank you.

[@margaretmcgarry1300]

You nailed it here thanks

[@jmydy]

Hint regarding timing seems very important puzzle I was missing. Today I tried applying this tempo 1..23 instead of 123 and it's not so easy :) It requires more power at '23' but I believe this is exactly how it should be. My swim style was missing good timing and my pace was just too 'steady'. When I put bit mor power when ending the pull, rotation is also quite easier. I'm still having some troubles at syncing my legs though. Also, thanks for explaining why fingers should enter water first. Cheers!

[@AB-xx1lj]

You're a really good teacher. Thank you for these valuable tips. We very much appreciate it!

[@Christos6300]

This is great advice. Thanks!

[@georgebernhard4941]

Excellent. Thank you

[@greenday1guitarfreak]

Thank you for explaining so well! I have started to swim again after 15 years (!) And I keep doing the treadmill thing so much I ended up swallowing half the pool lol. Excellent tips, can't wait to swim again

[@nancytripp2025]

In 'the right range' and find your individual natural rhythm which differs in terms of everyone. We need to get this 'feel' @6:20, sense of flow, personally.

[@petermaresse6513]

I found a really good way to "get" this was swimming close to the middle of the day, when you can watch your shadow on the bottom of the pool. I thought I was doing front quadrant, but I wasn't even close, and got worse the more fatigued I got. (Yes, I know this is not great for sunsmart...)

[@MrRiocomprido]

Great explanier!

[@alisonwilks302]

You are doing gods work ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤ thank you xxxxx

[@MarcialWills]

Pure dope 👍 I struggle to coordinate my kicks with the strokes

[@ivanpagac7946]

your advices always to the point! Thanks!

[@tspandya]

Great video!

[@denniseliasen6507]

Tak!

[@EffortlessSwimming]

Thank you! 🙏

[@JorgeRzezak]

Excellent video and explanations as always you do. Very good to focus on this three things which from now on I will try to follow..

[@MarkKrebs]

I feel like I'm seeing but have never heard remarked upon A quick skull in the middle of the stroke in and then out. What I mean by that is thinking of your hand as a wing the thumb becomes the leading edge for a quick stroke in, and then the pinky for a quick stroke out at the beginning of the finish. Could you comment on that?

[@elizabethbalbin8091]

these videos are fantastic !

[@33Jenesis]

I was doing slow and stretch out stroke while learning. Now my stroke rate is higher but I have better rhythm and breathing. New issue arises because my pull is not even, left side pull much better and stronger, causing me to move to the right. I reflect on my lap right after in order to make correction for the return rap. If I don’t be critical and analytical, bad form and habit would affect me much worse than not chasing after distance and speed.

[@sujstet]

Nice explanation... if you are doing a hip driven stroke its better to rotate almost 90 degree.. so you are pulling on your side

[@ToMidginator]

Great video

[@cmillholland]

I notice that the second swimmer (1:55) in the video has what some call a hybrid stroke. I can swim breathing evenly on the right and left in a rather balanced manner, but when I want to go fast or I'm tired at the end of longer set or race, I breath to the right side only. When I do this I have a bit of hitch in the stroke. While I strive to balance each side, I do see a number of good distance swimmers (even Ledecky?) who swim hybrid style. That doesn't mean that there isn't a good streamline on the hand entry and rotation, but the breathing side tends to hold the streamline longer while the non=breathing arm stretches but then quickly starts the stroke in something of a galloping stroke. Do you have any suggestions on how to manage (or eliminate?) a hybrid stroke?

[@EffortlessSwimming]

Hybrid is fine and can be more efficient at faster paces for people. Look at Bobby FInke in the 1500m free in his last 100m. You can change your stroke within a race or a session

[@andrewchadwick8405]

I’d like to hear more about this as I find I’m doing this. Thought it was poor form to start off but now know a little about this hybrid stroke

[@paulcrawford5153]

I find in a 100m race or suchlike the rhythm brakes down once you are struggling to keep going fast.. eventually it seems like I am just performing anything my body is still capable of to keep going. I have a rhythm but I find it too tiring to keep up for long if you are trying to go fast.. you run out of breath; some strength seems to fade after 75m. and then it seems just like a struggle fighting the water.. The first 25m seems smooth but very quickly everything falls apart. I am not sure why.. lack of technique or just weakness/unfitness

[@johnny107]

Your videos are brilliant and have made a huge difference to my swimming. Does anyone have any tips for what to use to take print outs of swimming sessions to the pool? A watterproof pouch? Some sort of board to write on?

[@CK-ho7zf]

Photocopy some pages and slip it into a plastic sleeve . Use some water and slap it on the pool wall or side.....who cares if it gets wet, just make another copy. Unless you want to laminate

[@GaryBook]

Great advice.

[@perfectyou3473]

slow waltz rhythm - sounds great

[@ramyg5037]

1:20 - So smooth...I would like to be able to swim like that...

[@edwoodall3543]

Very clear. Thanks

[@robertdepiano]

Thank you very much.

[@waynemar11]

Great video. I get the slow to fast but it means the one arm is fast whilst the other is slow. I can never get this coordinated. It’s fine for a one arm drill but not with both arms!

[@handmaiden4yah]

Thank you.

[@Mariana-st2kr]

You described exactly how I feel when I swim :)

[@SprintTri58]

It would be great if you could do a video on a swimmer with shorter arms, short torso and longer legs. I can’t seem to find any KZbinrs that intentionally show this to give us hope

[@bonzaralph]

Hey man, let me tell you I’ve been out swum by a guy with only one arm so loose the despair already. Focus on the information and understand that you will be rewarded.

[@cschaka1]

Very good coach !

[@davidcampbell4647]

Nice one Brenton, something I’m struggling with is rhythm, I’m swimming 1:33 pace for first 600 metres but feels like a lot of effort and I begin to lose form after than and my stroke gets scrappy for the remainder of a 1.5 - 3 km open water swims, I put it down to what you’ve discussed here.

[@SimonChristy]

Great explanation. The slow to fast is the same as hitting an effective swing in tennis, finding the timing to both change the speed and move from a relaxed arm to a tense one, then recovery. In freestyle I find the hardest part is to time the pull phase - tending to apply power a little too early. It would be great if you can do an explanation on how to keep a high spm yet not muscle/rush the recovery.

[@barrymiller99]

Excellent!

[@barrymiller99]

Really helped my swim today. I always enjoy the way I feel after a swim. Today, I actually enjoyed the swim!

[@sichaned1760]

that 123 123 changed my rythym 4good THANK YOU!!!!

[@MrRiocomprido]

Great!

[@englishtoday2386]

Great tips. Thank you. What do you think about oceanwalker technique?

[@yunus2375]

Great video! I have a much better catch and pull on my left side, and also my left side gets tired easier and I find it hard to catch rythm and lose some of the momentum eventuallly. Could it be related to having a better stroke on left arm?

[@martinkeir6223]

thanks Brenton for the terrific videos _ going to book in soon for a clinic _ however since I've worked a lot on improving the 5 principles _ with a snorkel, I've improved heaps and gaining a super smooth stroke with great rhythm , but when i release the snorkel im really finding it difficult breathing to the left while maintaining the smooth stroke. I ve always previously rotated breathing left right left , because depending on conditions in the bay , its a huge benefit being able to breath to both sides . my right stroke collapses when breathing to the left . Williamstown swimmer

[@EffortlessSwimming]

check your breath timing (often people are late on their non-preffered side), and check your rotation on that side too. See if there is a difference between the two sides

[@martinkeir6223]

@@EffortlessSwimming thank you

[@Honu-up3ou]

Love your videos, is there a chance that you will be in Hawaii teaching a clinic this year?

[@EffortlessSwimming]

Perhaps next year but won't be able to get there this year

[@v.hamilton5679]

The advice is only as good as the amount of practice you put into it.

[@RichieMay]

When you say in your videos that some is swimming a 1:30/100 - is this what they swim flat out for 100? Or is this an average over say 1km?

[@danielcapson9842]

Could you talk about bilateral breathing or do you think breathing on the same side is the best most efficient and effective method?

[@dannybowles6181]

thank you. hopefully the swim smoothers will raise continuous is nonsense

[@oscardelatorre2325]

thanks for all your trainings , these helps me a lot, cheers from Mexico

[@robertstevens6079]

I changed my rhythm recently and it feels similar to ice skating. is that a useful comparison?

[@EffortlessSwimming]

totally!

[@SprintTri58]

How do you approach athletes with long legs and -2” ape index. I’m 5’8” with a 5’6” wing span. Also 32.5” inseam. Should I focus on a higher cadence?

[@sutham6057]

Great tip, thanks 👍👍. May I know why I develop a tennis elbow whenever I use the vertical forearm after a few swims? Is it I lack strength when pulling or what are the reasons? Thank you

[@33Jenesis]

You are supposed to pull using lats and upper back/scapular, not your forearm. Perhaps you don’t rotate properly. If you rotate well, you will feel lats and scapular working while pulling water.

[@sutham6057]

@33Jenesis thank you for sharing the tip. I may not have rotated properly. I think I should get a good coach to avoid any further injuries if I still want to swim.

[@カノエリ]

素晴らしい解説でした🎉有り難うございます😊 水中でリラックスする事、呼吸から始めたいと思います。 水と同調して気持ちよく泳げるようになりますように。

[@handongfeng]

just want to confirm the 3rd one. When one hand enter the water, the other hand should be no pass the shoulder? my understanding is right?

[@venkateshmc7212]

Do you conduct any sessions in India?

[@blaket280]

Wondering if anyone has tips on how to keep a constant kick in freestyle I feel as though sometime when I’m spinning my kick crosses over and stops and my rhythm is throne off by it

[@maneshdani5293]

I am 59. Learning swimming for the last 3 months for 45 minutes.- Doggy Pedaling. But I'm feeling tired during rest of the day. What should I do ? Should I accept that my stemina is less & stop learning ?

[@qiangzeng6497]

where can I find the videos of the 5 core principles?

[@EffortlessSwimming]

It's available inside of our video membership program: effortlessswimming.com/training-and-membership-plans/

[@julielepage1315]

I seem to do more drills than Actually doing swimming Should I just carry on with this Or do more swimming to improve.

[@EffortlessSwimming]

10-20% drills and the rest swimming

[@JamieHines]

Have watched your video a few years ago when I was training for my first half Ironman. I'm a bigger triathlete (6'4" 260lbs) and one thing that I get confused about that you show in your videos is the "speed of " how fast these athletes strokes are and kicking. Do you have any videos that help show you how someone would swim for a 1500-2000m swim. All these videos looks like they are dong like a 25m. Hope this makes sense? Again for a larger, taller athlete, and for me muscular too. Thanks

[@mattooi4322]

Everyone talks about the need for bilateral breathing--but in most of your videos of "what to do" I always see these swimmers breathing to their preferred side--What's the take? Is this OK or should we be focusing more on bilateral breathing?

[@ChienNguyen-vh5iv]

You dont need to explain much Just video an athlete and put it in slow motion. That’s all I need Thanks so much

[@nicholasmasi9699]

I find I get dizzy when I swim freestyle 😅 maybe I am whipping my neck down to quickly but I usually imagine me being pretty smooth

[@EffortlessSwimming]

Keep your head centred unless you're breathing. Some swimmers move around too much

[@msyahril401]

1 2 3 drink, i'm gonna swim from swimming pool....🎵😊❤

[@tanyapunyo2074]

my left and right strokes are not symmetric

[@beverleyquarry7412]

A year ago I had brain surgery and I am para swimmer been back in 3m now after 28 years I’m so frustrated by this style

[@225rip]

Where is the water hitting your head? Is it between the goggles and cap?

[@henrileroy2485]

I notice the head is full under water.

[@napraznicul]

Did you know which is the problem with that 40° rotation in openwaters, on choopy water conditions (which are most of the time in sea and oceans strights)? It will overrotate you, it will unbalance you and most of the times it will affect your direction badly. So, if you said about training triathlon swimmers, maybe it's time to talk about solutions for that problem. Try yourself before.

[@maureensea4753]

It looks so easy. It's not. I am allmost 60, and i love yo learn freestyle. I love the pool, but i doubt i will ever learn to swim like this. 😮😢

[@slipperypisces5688]

QUALITY ADVICE.... Relax to swim better !

[@landnoman824]

hi, just leave a comment to let you know i happened to find a video(kzbin.info/www/bejne/hIOwmZuwirmCgdE) very similar to this one but is dubbed in Chinese, and the title is a word by word translation in Chinese. I don't know whether that author had got your permission.

[@GatAtTube]

the dude who is on the video needs to fix his stroke, a specially when sprinting