Stop Drag When Swimming!

We talk extensively about aerodynamics and drag in cycling and many other sports, but did you know that water is over 800 times more dense than air? This means that reducing our drag whilst swimming is even more important! Mark is here with GTN's top tips to get you more slippy!
Intro 0:00
Why do we drag? 0:30
Clothing, Skin & Hair 1:48
Surface Area & Body Position 2:43
Freestyle Stroke 4:48
Leg Kick 6:27
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[@robohippy]

One point that I have yet to see in any swimming video, is that body rotation does 2 things. One, it gives you a longer lever to apply by rotating off of your spine rather than just from the shoulder. The other is that the top side shoulder comes up out of the water which reduces your frontal profile for less drag.

[@AndrewShakespeare]

While surface area is a factor in the drag, frontal area is a separate parameter in the equation which links velocity and force.

[@Leeroy49]

Yes we watch Fares Ksebati :). And the 800x does only apply for 4°C temperature.

[@yuridianayasikov8711]

Please elaborate😊

[@robohippy]

I think that measure is pretty accurate, and it is taken at sea level. Not sure how temperature fits into it though. Also, sea water is more dense than fresh water.

[@emmyin]

Excellent Thank u so much!!

[@calvinh208]

I swam and dove in school and the takeaway from diving is your entry position on a dive. Standing with your hands up in the aero position you would push off the wall with, have someone to the side tell you when your head is most in-line and hidden between your arms (good for video content) or just feel your ears touching your shoulders. It definitely wont result in you looking straight forward (down when swimming) but will be tilted up slightly (forward). I don't think this is the only factor though, center of gravity must also be considered and there is probably a compromise between in-line hydrodynamics and making sure you aren't lifting your head high and forcing your feet too low - especially when breathing!

[@adamsheret149]

Didn't know Mark was moonlighting as Rudolf this year

[@ironman140.6]

Mark who bopped your nose... James!

[@pierregranet]

Leg kick is just here to go from one side to the other. It does not help to go faster. And catch is to be able to somehow do a 90 degrees between front arm and arm, not to grab water with a straight arm.

[@brianrichardson5310]

Doesn't pressing down at the start of the catch lift your chest (not whole body) and so make you less hydrodynamic? I can't imagine doing this will lift my feet or hips.

[@sebastienbrochard9812]

I guess Mark fell on his nose during the yoga challenge!? 😬

[@7day_swimmer]

You're welcome!

[@Team_MFH]

I watch this repeatedly then watch it repeatedly with our 9 yo. These videos help tremendously.

[@timobrien256]

Interesting after years of hearing look down while swimming, the new Head Coaching from FORM swim goggles wants me to look more forward

[@markthrelfall3577]

That is interesting. For the majority, even when you tell them to look down, they still look too high. You've clearly managed to overcome that, so well done

[@MarcEvans-lj1rk]

much of this information is from the 1970's from Doc Councilman...world famous coach, scientist, author.

[@pierregranet]

Bad Idea to be high on the water 😉 You have to break the wave and that requires more energy than being below the water. Look at the evolution of swimming, WE are more and more below the water 😉

[@edd1016]

Mark nose best.

[@Dimashoey]

I hope the wound on your nose is not a serious thing. Get well soon ❤

[@andrewthornton6192]

Did you know that I’m 800 times more dense than water?

[@JimCullen]

Drag doesn't increase exponentially with speed. It increases with the square of speed. It's speed^2, not 2^speed.

[@markthrelfall3577]

We have had this argument before. Yes, you are correct. But if I start saying this in the middle of the video, I will lose half the audience. Exponential = becoming more and more rapid. Whilst mathematically not exactly, exactly right, it explains it fairly closely for the layman to understand

[@JimCullen]

@@markthrelfall3577 oh have we? I'll admit I don't recall. Anyway, I'm not sure that saying "drag increases with the square of speed" is particularly confusing. Squaring isn't a higher level maths concept.

[@markthrelfall3577]

@@JimCullen I hear you, but personally feel it means nothing to most people in that way. Simply saying “exponentially”, and people easily get the idea. The drag increases significantly as the speed increases

[@utuber221]

​@@markthrelfall3577 I'm good in math and i understood what you meant. You need more effort at higher speed than I lower speed if you want to go faster.... Sounds like something similar to E=mc^2😂

[@TheTarekinho]

t2 = exp(2*ln(x)) 😅

[@redbeard1891]

I aint shaving my chest and back.