FREESTYLE SWIMMING: 5 MOST COMMON MISTAKES

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In this video I am going to show you how to fix the most common freestyle mistakes. Specifically, by doing swimming exercises and drills from the video, you will master arm stroke and breathing technique really fast!
0:23 - Low elbow arm stroke
4:03 - Arm stroke while breathing
6:46 - Lifting head for taking a breath
9:29 - Short arm strokes
11:08 - Large bending at the knees
Here's what you'll learn in today's video:
First, I will show you the "cheat code" how to perform correct arm stroke. By using my tip, 100% you will do an arm stroke correctly.
Next, you will find out chair arm stroke exercise to set up your freestyle arm stroke technique. Also, you will figure out why swimmers have bad swimming technique and how to avoid it.
2nd most common mistake appears when swimmer does not have basic swimming skills. Swimmers are taking a breath and at the same time performing an arm stroke. This mistake makes swimming hard and super inefficient. When you correct this mistake, your freestyle swimming will be 2x faster! (This is really easy).
Then, I will show you how to get rid of incorrect breathing technique. Many swimmers have learnt to breathe in the water by themselves, therefore, in many cases technique is wrong. Breathing is super important in swimming and especially, if you are a triathlon swimmer. Fortunately, this is much easier to correct than it sounds.
Next, I will show you how to improve swimming by using the same amount of energy with "Long Efficient Arm Strokes". By performing such arm strokes in IronMan competitions, you will swim really fast and save energy for cycling and running.
Finally, the last mistake is caused by performing incorrect kicks. This mistake can be dramatic and ruin the entire swimming. Kicking does not give us large speed boost. However, incorrect technique slows us down. Check out my swimming tutorial to get correct kicking technique.
Evgeny Lomtev
Filming:
Ville Tirroniemi
Benjami Hiljanen
Juhani Alatulkkila
Design:
Gregory Kovalev
• FREESTYLE SWIMMING: 5 ...

[@SwimUp]

What do you think is the biggest mistake? 1st - Low elbow arm stroke 2nd - Arm stroke while breathing 3rd - Lifting head for taking a breath

[@mohammadkhayata334]

SwimUP 3

[@nasimdarya1425]

1st

[@noran1026]

3rd mistake puts body out of alignment so I imagine it results in the biggest inefficiency. However, which one is the worst to one specific swimmer, also depends on the degree of the mistake, ie slightly or obviously.

[@fabian13333]

3d

[@frankhf3862]

I'd also go for the 3rd because it's the one that shows me that you are not comfortable in the water. If you know how to breathe and are relaxed, all other problems can be solved.

[@romanmedveckij]

that feeling when you watch him swimming on WRONG mode but for you it looks smooth and perfect

[@78mui]

Roman Medveckij fax

[@wandersl]

Oh indeed. The only "wrong" part where he looks like he doesn't know how to quite show it is the last one, with the bent knees. All the others I was very thankful for the hints on whether the video was showing wrong or right :D

[@priyagirish8121]

Thanks a lot for this video

[@priyagirish8121]

It would help me a lot

[@marianodriotes1264]

I was wondering, what was wrong... seemed smooth to me

[@kuthanc78]

Extremely helpful video. My only suggestion is to split the screen into two videos, showing the mistake and correct technique side by side in slow motion.

[@AaronMai90]

Kuthan CELEBI good advice indeed.

[@sonnynaps3396]

Yeah that will help beacause newbies like me, mistake and correct technique kind of like the same to me

[@tayjung3568]

IMO, This video is well made. But I also think it would be better if signs to distinguish between wrong and correct cases are more clear

[@Blackjack-rs8vs]

Yararlı felan değil eğer beginner değilsen bu hataları zaten biliyor olman lazım.

[@SwimUp]

Thank you for the feedback! We will improve our future videos!

[@agentwrench]

"In this position it is impossible to perform an arm stroke wrong" man, don't underestimate my ability to fuck up

[@edoedo8686]

Haha..me too..hey mistakes are teachers...blessed are my mistakes...

[@Pop99991]

Lmao I’ve been swimming for 4 years and still don’t know technique I just swing my arms

[@me3468]

😂

[@thankyoukindly3093]

❤️😂

[@chewbrookaw8588]

I definitely struggle with the breathing. My form falls apart completely when i feel desperate for a breath. I’m a beginner and it’s so hard to focus on the correct form when I feel distracted by breathing at the wrong intervals. I will definitely be trying your drills to improve my breathing patterns! Thanks for the great video!

[@SubodhJ357]

Do breathing walk.. improve some breathing... then practice better... in time you'll gain confidence and will do better

[@ig5651]

focus on breathing out when in the water so you don't hyperventilate. Make small bubbles when breathing out.

[@modest91]

This is my issue. I really want to get better 😞

[@petarpanonski]

As the fear of drowning is the most basic fear, we tend to breathe in too much air. Probably your problem is too much CO2 in body because you breathe in large amounts of air and not exhaling all the way. You can exhale for much longer periods than inhaling. When feelnig you can't breathe anymore, stop at the end of the pool, hold on to a rim and try to find a calm breath cycle by inhaling above and exhaling with head under water by being focused on your breathing as you're doing it. Try this for a week and you'll be surprised how your breathing improved. REMEBER TO EXHALE FULLY! You can also practice outaide the pool by holding your breath as long as you can whilst you exale.

[@kakashi_cks3159]

Me too whenever's I'm freestyle I always go out of form and when I breathe I feel like I don't HAVE oxygen and I have no energy after I breath

[@juliengaucher2832]

Even when this guy makes all the mistakes he still swims 10x faster than me.

[@davidemenegollo9481]

Please translate this video in italian asap!

[@helenamills4563]

Haha.. yes, i agree, me too can't swim faster like him😁🤣🏊‍♂️🏊‍♀️

[@mario1ua]

Even if he makes all the mistakes simultaneously )

[@liliere1]

😂 You made me laugh out loud 😂. It is my case too !!

[@alfredosierra2612]

Same

[@bekamtchedlidze4785]

Friends at the river: When did you become an expert in freestyle swimming ? Me: Last night.

[@mifzal2024]

Sounds like that one avengers endgame line, that one tony uses for quantum things hahah

[@jacobtk]

@@mifzal2024 😂😂😂

[@KayceeJonesCKiwas]

THAT'S freaking cool 😂

[@uroosaburney3976]

@@mifzal2024 its not avengers endgame, its the first avengers movie and tony becomes a expert on thermo nuclear astro physics in one night

[@mifzal2024]

@@uroosaburney3976 Oh yeah I forgot 😅

[@TheGhostWriter.]

I think that guy swim better outside the pool than me in it 😂

[@giacomoguarnieri2461]

I have just started swimming recently (~1 month ago) and there is no adult class at the pool where I'm going, so I have relied on watching many YT videos explaining how to swim properly. This was the best freestyle swimming lesson video I came across and it REALLY helped me.: Yesterday I made use of your precious advices and "unlocked" my first mile of consecutive freestyle without even getting tired (I know it's nothing but before I was able to only swim for 250m consecutively, so it's at least a factor 4 boost just happening out of the blue). So, thank you very much, I will keep trying to improve following your videos!

[@LayzieDave]

When you realize that being able to swim is not even close to being able to swim.

[@mrpohatu6953]

LayzieDave get the goggles davey

[@RachaelJohn]

😂 exactly my thoughts while watching this

[@sandramabaleka5310]

Best comment 😂

[@tpdancersvevo9203]

💀💀😎🇹🇿🇹🇿🇹🇿

[@aurboda]

lmfao same

[@jimka385]

After watching this video, I realised that I was doing pretty much everything wrong :D

[@imadherraf1620]

same here

[@zenzen7832]

Jimmy Karlsson same

[@phoenixlord802]

Me too

[@ockipoki]

Yep me too. I know what 5 drills I'm doing at the pool next time!

[@waterisgood10]

Poor Jimmy. Yea y think you need help. :D

[@lovelovelioness6859]

I'm a beginner and I've been watching a lot of videos and this is the best video I've seen so far. Thank you for posting this.

[@landen5406]

Bro… you have the most common sense way of explaining technique. I’ve watched so many videos and all of them combined still don’t compare to one of your videos. I appreciate your insight!!!

[@pattybishop758]

This is the best video. Thank you so much. I am 72 years old and determined to achieve freestyle. This video will definitely help me

[@ishigoku]

Patty Bishop no age n never too late to learn when there is a will there is hope You can learn anything in this life it all depends on the teacher This video is fantastic I started swimming a year nhalf ago From unable to swim 25 meters without beeing out of breath due tozero techniques Now i swim freely in freestyle And after exactly a year i was able to swim a full 1 km in one shot And sometimes 2 km when my schedule allows I wasnt a swimmer quiet afraid of water especially deep water It bothered me for so many years Finaly i told myself enough i ve got to know n learn how to properly swim

[@Vivungisport]

Just curious, why this determination to learn freestyle?

[@pattybishop758]

XxNuBiE negative Nancy’s just don’t get it. 🥰

[@mbal4052]

@@pattybishop758 go for it Patty

[@baekhyuneee5965]

Wow!! Just keep going, u inspired me and I am totally supporting you !! Go and get it ❤🔥

[@Steadysales]

Outstanding! What a tremendous amount of value packed into each mistake Correction. Thank you for taking the time to produce such an excellent video.

[@mmartel]

+1 I learned a ton. I make every one of these mistakes currently. 😂

[@SwimUp]

Thank you for your feedback!

[@legefy]

I was taught to breath during strokes... Well this is going to be hell to fix.

[@slasha86]

Hands down, this is one of the best freestyle swimming advice videos around here! I am swimming casually freestyle since a few years and working on those mistakes, helped me increasing my speed and endurance big time! Last habit i broke, was doing strokes while breathing. Fixing this, really took some hours, but once you get the hang on it, you see an improvement immediately! Thanks!

[@NishaNisha-kq5tr]

Lifeguard : What kind of swimming techniques do you know? Me : Drowning. 🤣🤣🤣

[@shirleywong4333]

that's me

[@AethernaLuxen]

I can float 24/7 but I wouldn't be able to move after

[@nicolegonzalez3781]

Teddy Thug Life same 🤣🤷🏻‍♀️

[@rosembimo]

😂😂😂😂

[@jsuswaram]

😂🤣

[@RJ-zc5vt]

This is the most detailed video on FreeStyle Swimming. You have done an absolutely amazing job at explaining the cruical aspects. Indeed the best video on FreeStyle. Keep-up the wonderful work.

[@Catawbaindustrialspur]

Thank you for making this. I realized that I was doing a lot of things wrong and this really helped and made me realize how to swim correctly. Once I put it into practice the results were amazing. Thank you!!

[@halinamcgee901]

Thanks so much I am 67 years old and have never swam laps before I started swimming 12 months ago doing a form of breast stroke. I got up to 60 laps in an hour and 40 mins decided to change to freestyle and only swim for 60 mins as I was too exhausted for the rest of the day. Now I swim freestyle with added flippers as I couldn’t even swim a full lap without them. I swim 50 laps in around 65 mins 5days a week . I’m hoping I can get the right technique so I can enjoy my swimming much more. I just stumbled across this video on KZbin and I love it.You give easy instructions so I am hoping I can adjust my swimming style to make it more enjoyable for me. Thank you so much. Cheers 🥂 to better swimming 🏊🏼‍♀️🏊🏼‍♀️🏊🏼‍♀️🏊🏼‍♀️🏊🏼‍♀️🏊🏼‍♀️🏊🏼‍♀️🏊🏼‍♀️

[@SwimUp]

Halina McGee thank you very much for your comment!

[@lovehugs1269]

"amani WHY are all the chairs in the middle of the floor, why are you pushing them like this, stop!" lmaooo mommy's exact words

[@up2richie447]

Call me daddy

[@jackstoutamore8541]

Up2Richie Call me grossed out

[@cameroniwaasa7670]

Remarkably clear and concise. Excellent video.

[@kingtang490]

This is really helpful. I tried the moves to correct the breathing and short stroke problems I had and I have seen a 10% improvement in time the first day. It is encouraging! Keep up the good work. Really enjoy your videos.

[@BRONZALiVE]

Thanks for the advice!! Im just getting back into swimming after a few years, I’ve mostly been focussing on running and marathons and bike riding, but I’ve never really committed to swimming, now that’s changed!

[@smb06]

Definitely #2. Never seen a video directly call this out and I notice that my breathing side I always pull much earlier than my non pulling side. Going to focus on this on my next swim session.

[@marioschrysanthou2703]

Thank you so much, best video that points out both mistakes and correct ways of swimming technique.

[@MarceloG..]

BEST swim video I've ever seen... period!!! The forearm/elbow tip is golden. The breathing one too. I can't wait to go try them at the pool. Subscribed! Thank you!!!

[@MrCaneast]

I have never known how to swim all of my life. I have always just stood in the pool or ocean just watching my wife and 3 children swimming and finally took swimming lessons for 2 sessions in a row last year and I have never been shown these techniques. I finished still not knowing how to swim. These are exactly what I should have been shown. I find I'm partial to oxygen so I needed to know how to breathe while practising the techniques. Thank you very much. (By the way I'll be 71 this year and was born and brought up near an ocean beach).

[@jofevem]

Perhaps the most useful video that I've found about basic freestyle technique.

[@josegonzaloditchingssvp]

this the best video so far in teaching freestyle. thank u

[@kiriakidatsiadi6816]

I've seen many videos to understand that breathing technique, but yours is far better than everyone else. Thank you, looking forward to try it!

[@aysefiliz1]

THANK YOU!!I will try these straight up- tomorrow :)

[@you2ber252]

Thank you so much for this hugely helpful video. I'm not young, so it's very hard for me to get a trainer really willing to take me seriously and spend his time to help me, so these videos are like gold to me!

[@dianasalomon7914]

Thank you! By far, the best video i have watched about swimming. I'm honestly really grateful!

[@valdemusk5967]

I watched so many useless videos. Now i see it clarly. By far best video on explaining technique.

[@hildaribeiro5759]

Melhor explicação até hoje 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[@DanielFlyjh]

Fantastic teaching video! Always watching without hesitating. Thank you so much!

[@gayatriinstitute4870]

Sou

[@sunc88]

It’s the best video I’ve never watched before~!!! Thank you so much~! I really appreciate it!

[@alexw4570]

Thank you! This is a great video! Will definitely be watching this one weekly to focus on each area!

[@rinaputri4238]

I instantly feel the effect of this cooldown workout. Thank you

[@ebrubahar3296]

And here I thought I was swimming properly. My whole life has been a lie

[@camc2252]

Better to discover that late than never. Cheer up and continue to swim ;-)

[@Owen-eu7hz]

Just keep your chin up That’s the way it goes;D

[@dellaroccia]

🤣

[@jeffletendre5025]

Amazing video. Very well thought out !! Thanks

[@alexeykraynov1970]

Best video, explaining how to improve your technique!

[@Francogoatsimulator]

These are the kind of contents why i consider youtube one of the best inventions of humankind. Great work.

[@lghjsdtugfkgfjgtru]

thank you! I've improved tremendously my freestyle in the past months but this helped me calrify some doubts I had been having that needed to be addressed. Now I'm excited to try my corrections tomorrow in my training session.

[@rudrajoshi8763]

Same

[@JustinFreitag]

One of the best instructional videos for improving your freestyle I’ve seen.

[@lightnixgd3594]

Thank you for all the information!! I have looked through a couple clips and I saved this one for future reference! Very detailed and informative!!

[@johnswimcat]

Superb video. I trained for years as a masters (adult) swimmer and competed. My front crawl stroke was never right. How I wish I'd had this video to work from, it's the best instructional material I've ever seen

[@SwimUp]

Thank you very much! Check out our other videos! :)

[@Jester123ish]

Thank you, thank you, thank you! You’ve helped me realise I was trying to take a stroke while breathing, it was messing me up!

[@nicolasbowers9028]

Exited to try these drills tomorrow! Best swimming technique video I’ve seen yet, thank you

[@silvanobabuin49]

0 u

[@sumitboral3745]

Do's and don't in these videos are very useful rather then straight swiming tutorials, thanks a lot.

[@bijoyamukherji]

I started swimming from today and needed guidance. thank you so much for this! so well explained 🙏🏼 god bless you!

[@pussyraider4950]

this video is incredible! i've been interested in learning to swim freestyle properly & i am a kind of person who has hard time understanding any sort of exercise instructions, but these were all so clearly explained! thank you for this video

[@alexandriamihalcik9202]

Thank you. This is so helpful for avoiding mistakes in swimming!

[@BanBan993]

This helped me SO MUCH! Thank you!!

[@LesPaulGothic]

Thanks for sharing this! Very happy to understand easily how to improve my technique and performances 😃. Do not skip the basics!

[@funkenmariechen1980]

Never commented on a swimming video year, but this is fantastic!

[@Kasi323]

Funky Mary True for me. Watched many videos. Couldn’t resist appreciation for this video.

[@fatoudiaw8979]

Thank you so much ❤️ lol trying not to embarrass myself at the pool. I looked so professional🥰

[@mercedespalominocanales7921]

muchas gracias, es el primer video que enseñan con muchos detalles

[@sreeprakashneelakantan5051]

Single video that covers all the errors and corrections. Thank you 🙏

[@HandsomeRabbit8]

A very good video for self-taught swimmers!

[@thehungmatty]

it's amazing, loved it!!! Thanks so much brillient

[@Light-ni6ti]

I learned so much! Just need to put it into practice now. Thank you!

[@jsfbr]

Self-awareness is the name of the game! Swimming is very complex series and coordination of movements. Thank you for this video! More elements to pay attention to and dutifully incorporate to my practice.

[@marxflyful]

Thank you!!!! My lower back always hurt when swimming due to excessive neck elevation when breathing and same with my shoulder after a couple of minutes. You’ve really helped me a lot

[@samelgore7575]

This is a great video, maybe one of the best for swimmers who are looking to improve period.. I highly recommend it.

[@Humanumikey]

Can’t wait to hit the gym and try all this out. Thank you!

[@veroramos8922]

Muchas gracias, excelente video!! 🇦🇷

[@jerryshelton7071]

I was drinking a bottle of water while watching this and it seem refreshing.

[@shwetadandawate6587]

I feel like low strokes was really getting me when I competed, very helpful video thx! 👍

[@titittitittt]

AMAZIING THANK YOU FOR THIS!!!!! TAKING NOTES

[@gillhollister8538]

Best explanation of high elbow. I've been trying to correct my stroke without actually understanding what im'doing wrong. Can't wait to try it out in the pool tomorrow

[@mikemeachem3445]

you have so much information here but I love to come back again and again. Would you do a video for those who are attempting swimming as adult. I think the paradigm is different for learning as a young person. Thanks I enjoy your channel :-)

[@dommyespi6797]

wow! I never knew how hard swimming was! This video really helped me perfect my armstrokes for my next race, thankyou!

[@showshow299]

Thank you so much for such an informative video. My speed increased so much ever since I watched the video. My mistake was the low elbow arm stroke. Now I’m catching a lot more water.

[@franklin106]

Thank you very much for posting these tips on swimming. I recently started using swimming as a workout. It feels great. Thank you again. All the best to you. I’m from NYC 👍🏽

[@Kyrious]

My swimming instantly improved the next day. It’s not perfect but it’s much much better. Thank you for the informative video.

[@bb.cute.channel]

Should do a split screen of the Right vs Wrong. Easier for comparison. 👍👍👍👍

[@SwimUp]

Thanks for the feedback! I will do it in the next videos!

[@bb.cute.channel]

SwimUp Thank you. Split screen showing correct and incorrect styles would be amazing. Either top and bottom splits, or left and right splits. 👍👍👍

[@BACACHICKY]

Amazing video! I think I have been doing it all wrong for years! This guy is so informative. I can't wait to get in the water today and evaluate my form!

[@mabelherrera7150]

This was amazing, very precise and detailed advixe.. love it from a total beginner learning to be comfirtable in the deep end

[@Marco-zp2se]

Thanks this helped a lot 🤷‍♂️🤷‍♂️

[@Sky2Live]

1 is the hardest, the chair pushing analogy is good but it doesn’t differentiate between a good push or not with early catch

[@andrewcorll1967]

This video is amazingly helpful! I've been in a pool almost every year of my life since I was born, but have never really learned how to swim correctly, including in my single swimming class in high school. I found out then that I naturally tended to do a frog kick while attempting to do the front crawl (which I didn't even know because I didn't pay attention to it), and I always naturally keep my head above the water at all times (which is completely wrong I now realize). I didn't know...any of this. I plan on actually learning and utilizing swimming for exercise, so this video is great and I will practice these techniques! Thank you!!

[@mukulgoswami1749]

Wonderful. So much thankful to you, Exactly what i was looking for...

[@Flaphand]

Hey man; love the videos. Very informative, concise and technical. I was wondering if you could cover a video on swimming underwater? What is most efficient? For the Marine Corps I need to do atleast 2 laps without resurfacing. Big lungs help but being efficient and swift is also important but I've never had a lesson on underwater swimming.

[@rcva1]

This video is wonderful. It clearly identifies common problems and how to fix them. The analysis is targeted, explained in basic terms, and very helpful. Thank you for posting it.

[@ewaf4733]

Fantastic video, I have decided recently to swim correctly as I love swimming and I am self taught. Now I know what to do. I will implement all advice during the next swimming. Thanks a lot!

[@taleiran]

The best explanation of the swimming technique that I've seen so far!

[@LoiNguyen-mb1ch]

I think low elbow arm stroke is the biggest problem. I love how well the video shows the correct and incorrect way. All 5 mistakes are committed. By me.

[@julianguyen1400]

I’m watching this right before my swim practice lmao. 😎tryna keep up

[@ilhamtaloaie8437]

hahhaha same xDD

[@armantavakoli7926]

Thanks a lot for the tips, these suggestions were amazing!

[@juliadasilva6678]

Well explained! Thank you so much 😊. I've doing this Mistake repetitively

[@mrwhammer]

Thank you for this video, i have been trying to get this correctly because i have been judged for not swimming correctly and lowers my self esteem

[@Kasi323]

This is really very good. Though I have watched many videos and still struggling to avoid mistakes. I believe this video will definitely help me to improve efficiency. As I get tired too soon with free style, I switch to breast stroke, which I am able to do very relaxed and for long. Let me focus on avoiding these mistakes. Thanks for the super video.

[@bpxl53yewz29]

It was really helpful that you showed the arm strokes out of the water too. Thank you

[@PicsFromChris]

One of the absolutely best free style technique improvement video for average swimmer. Thanks @KZbin for bringing this video in my view list, now can’t wait for swimming pools to reopen 🤷‍♂️

[@SwimUp]

Glad it was helpful!

[@sundarrajan76]

Thanks a lot for the tips. I was doing all these 5 mistakes. After watching your video my swimming improved a geat deal.

[@nuraqilahhanisab5813]

best video, lots of info. I will improve my swimming skills especially the kicking part..Thanks for the video:)

[@jossertshi5559]

Thank you so much!! I'm super slow at freestyle swimming and now I finally understand why!