[seabiscuit]

Hey there lap swimmers,

I have some questions as to how I can improve my front crawl and could use some tips, if you don't mind.

I started swimming when I was very young. Only recently, have I been getting into going lap swimming more often, and I am taking some 1/2 hour private progressive swim lessons at my YMCA. They are very helpful.

So, here are my questions/concerns I'd like some help with please.

When I swim my front crawl, I turn my head to the right every three to four arm lengths. Should I be curving my arms slightly inwards? Also, it seems that I have a nice, good arch when I pull my right arm out of the water but my left arm is 'slapping' the water' lacking that arch, a different type of slapping and thudding motion and my hand flops around, it doesn't just dive in. I spent a lot of time last night working on this with a pool buoy so I would only focus on my arms, but I still didn't make too much progress.

Another issue I have, charley-horses!! Ouch! I have heard that good tips are to eat bananas, stay hydrated especially with water, to keep the feet 'loose' and not in a tight position and point the foot lightly when the charley-horse hits. Do you have any other tips?

I am starting to do somersaults underwater because I want to learn flip-turns. What has helped you to keep your body tight in a knot and stay rolling forward (Not on at angle/tilt)?

Do any you use prescription swim goggles? I met a swimmer at my pool last night who says she uses prescription swim googles from Barracuda and really likes them. I'd appreciate your comments, positive or negative on this and all of these issues.

THANKS and happy swimming!!

[TripSwitch]

Let me first say... That's awesome that you've started lap swimming.... Swimming is literally one of my favorite things to do... I swam competively from a very early age through high school and college, I've done triathlons and I also belong to a masters swim team... I think some lessons like you've mentioned are a great idea.... I know for me it's so hard to try to give advice without actually seeing the person's stoke and their form...

The one thing I didn't quite understand in your post was do only breathe every 3 or 4 strokes? I usually breathe every stroke on my dominant side, although I do change that up every so often to give my dominant side a break... and I'll also throw in practice "sighting" every so often to prepare me for open water swimming... So unless I'm sprinting I don't usually go several strokes without breathing...

And as far as the charley horses go... I know everyone says to eat bananas, but in my experience it's not the K+ that I'm really lacking in, but Mg+.... So sometimes I've supplemented that.... But like all things when it comes to supplementing with stuff like that I would talk with a doc or your HCP... It could just be the muscles in your feet and legs getting used to something "new" and they"ll just adjust to it and those cramps will go away on their own or at least become very infrequent...

As far as flip turns go.... They just come with a lot of practice.... And depending on your pace and how much you're swimming I wouldn't worry too much about them... They really do take quite a bit of time to really become "efficient" at so that they make sense and aren't throwing you off and just messing you up coming off the wall...

Hopefully the lessons will help you out with your form questions.... Most of all... Have fun and enjoy those laps!

[SoMuchFattitude]

Everything Trip said.

The only difference is I focus a lot on bilateral breathing and breath every 3 strokes typically.