{"id":74,"date":"2018-03-02T12:32:45","date_gmt":"2018-03-02T17:32:45","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/swimmirror.com\/blog\/?p=74"},"modified":"2023-10-16T12:10:02","modified_gmt":"2023-10-16T16:10:02","slug":"8-common-swim-stroke-mistakes-you-can-fix-with-swimmirror","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/swimmirror.com\/blog\/8-common-swim-stroke-mistakes-you-can-fix-with-swimmirror\/","title":{"rendered":"8 Common Swim Stroke Mistakes Your Pool Mirror Can Fix"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>See How SwimMirror Improves Your Swim Strokes in Real-Time!<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Stop me if you\u2019ve heard this before about your swim strokes: \u201cPractice doesn\u2019t make perfect. <em>Perfect<\/em> practice makes perfect.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Just about every swimmer has heard this mantra from their coach at some point or another, but it\u2019s good advice for a reason: it\u2019s <em>true<\/em>. The more we get used to swimming with poor or inefficient technique, the harder it is to unlearn those habits. Throw in the fact that it can be difficult to assess your own swim technique in the pool, and it\u2019s tricky to unlearn some of our sneaky technique mistakes!<\/p>\n<p>That\u2019s what makes SwimMirror such a helpful tool for competitive swimmers. An underwater pool mirror reflects your technique back at you in real-time, helping you assess your own swim stroke in the water. With consistent practice, you can banish those pesky mistakes once and for all.<\/p>\n<p>Here\u2019s a list of 8 common mistakes in your swim strokes that SwimMirror can help you catch.<\/p>\n<p><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_82_2 counter-flat ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title ez-toc-toggle\" style=\"cursor:pointer\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 eztoc-toggle-hide-by-default' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/swimmirror.com\/blog\/8-common-swim-stroke-mistakes-you-can-fix-with-swimmirror\/#1_Your_Breaststroke_Has_Too_Much_Elbow_Room\" >1) Your Breaststroke Has Too Much Elbow Room<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/swimmirror.com\/blog\/8-common-swim-stroke-mistakes-you-can-fix-with-swimmirror\/#2_Your_Backstroke_Feels_Lopsided\" >2) Your Backstroke Feels Lopsided<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/swimmirror.com\/blog\/8-common-swim-stroke-mistakes-you-can-fix-with-swimmirror\/#3_Your_Butterfly_Stroke_Looks_Too_Forward\" >3) Your Butterfly Stroke Looks Too Forward<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/swimmirror.com\/blog\/8-common-swim-stroke-mistakes-you-can-fix-with-swimmirror\/#4_Youre_Swimming_Flat_in_Freestyle\" >4) You\u2019re Swimming Flat in Freestyle<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/swimmirror.com\/blog\/8-common-swim-stroke-mistakes-you-can-fix-with-swimmirror\/#5_Your_Push-Off_Isnt_On_Toe_Point\" >5) Your Push-Off Isn\u2019t On (Toe) Point<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/swimmirror.com\/blog\/8-common-swim-stroke-mistakes-you-can-fix-with-swimmirror\/#6_Your_Butterfly_Kicks_are_Too_Big\" >6) Your Butterfly Kicks are Too Big<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/swimmirror.com\/blog\/8-common-swim-stroke-mistakes-you-can-fix-with-swimmirror\/#7_Youre_Pulling_Kicking_Together_in_Breaststroke\" >7) You\u2019re Pulling &amp; Kicking Together in Breaststroke<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/swimmirror.com\/blog\/8-common-swim-stroke-mistakes-you-can-fix-with-swimmirror\/#8_Youre_Rushing_Your_Swim_Strokes\" >8) You\u2019re Rushing Your Swim Strokes<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/swimmirror.com\/blog\/8-common-swim-stroke-mistakes-you-can-fix-with-swimmirror\/#What_Else_Can_Your_SwimMirror_Do_So_Much_More%E2%80%A6\" >What Else Can Your SwimMirror Do? So Much More\u2026<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"1_Your_Breaststroke_Has_Too_Much_Elbow_Room\"><\/span>1) Your Breaststroke Has Too Much Elbow Room<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>You might find yourself making this breaststroke error after the pullout and during the recovery of the hands: your elbows are too wide! This common mistake is easy to fix, but not the most pleasant to adjust for in the water.<\/p>\n<p>When you complete the pullout, picture a cross as your hands recover, reaching forward to touch the stomach and chest without moving your elbows at all. They should only begin moving when your hands are at your shoulders. Be sure your palms are facing down!<\/p>\n<p><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"2_Your_Backstroke_Feels_Lopsided\"><\/span>2) Your Backstroke Feels Lopsided<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Backstroke tends to have its own brand of error due to the reversed sense of motion. It\u2019s easy to veer off to the side and come a little too close to the lane barrier, throwing you off mid-stroke.<\/p>\n<p>Try to find a focal point above as you cruise through the water and stick with that point until the turn. As you flip, you\u2019ll be able to check your alignment, allowing for a more efficient and faster push-off!<\/p>\n<p><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"3_Your_Butterfly_Stroke_Looks_Too_Forward\"><\/span>3) Your Butterfly Stroke Looks Too Forward<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Don\u2019t we all like to know where we\u2019re going? Unfortunately, in butterfly that instinct works against you. By looking forward, your hips stay way too low, leaving your body flat and stiff as you swim. This puts extra strain on your neck and limits your mobility. Start looking downwards\u2014we promise you\u2019ll feel a huge difference!<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"4_Youre_Swimming_Flat_in_Freestyle\"><\/span>4) You\u2019re Swimming Flat in Freestyle<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>When you\u2019re swimming flat, your belly is always pointing down towards the bottom of the pool. That\u2019s bad news for your arm strokes, because it stops your body from rotating with you. When that happens, your shoulders stiffen up under the pressure, which can lead to problems as serious as rotator cuff or tendonitis. Yikes! Fix this by rotating your shoulders and extending your hand all the way in front of you during the arm stroke, so that your body rolls onto your side. Keep your core tight so that your rotation is as smooth as possible.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"5_Your_Push-Off_Isnt_On_Toe_Point\"><\/span>5) Your Push-Off Isn\u2019t On (Toe) Point<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>When you push off the wall, you\u2019ll want to make sure your feet position isn\u2019t too high. When that happens, that push-off will send your body downwards instead of forwards\u2014woops! After the push from the wall, make sure your toes are pointed to keep your swimming streamlined. If it helps, practice curling your toes as if you\u2019re trying to pick up a coin off the floor!<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"6_Your_Butterfly_Kicks_are_Too_Big\"><\/span>6) Your Butterfly Kicks are Too Big<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Don\u2019t rely on your kicks for the butterfly stroke! Your body, not your legs, should be your motor in butterfly. The style doesn\u2019t lend itself to big kicks, which can exhaust you swiftly and keep your shoulders too low in the water, making it difficult to get your arms out on recovery. Do your body a favor and kick your kicks as small as you can, while still exaggerating your body roll. Focus on that propulsion and keep your arms at your sides!<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"7_Youre_Pulling_Kicking_Together_in_Breaststroke\"><\/span>7) You\u2019re Pulling &amp; Kicking Together in Breaststroke<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Pulling and kicking shouldn\u2019t happen at the same time in breaststroke, and for good reason: it makes you work much harder than you need to. If you separate your pull from the kick, each stroke will push you further, moving you much faster. Practice with the \u201cpull-glide-kick-glide\u201d technique. In a streamline, lie on your stomach, then perform one pull with your legs behind you. After you\u2019re done with the arm stroke, return to a streamline, and perform the kick only after you take a moment to glide. Once you\u2019ve kicked, hold the streamline and glide once more. Then rinse and repeat!<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"8_Youre_Rushing_Your_Swim_Strokes\"><\/span>8) You\u2019re Rushing Your Swim Strokes<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Speed is important, but so is making sure you finish the strokes you start! When you rush into the next stroke, your technique becomes sloppy\u2014and more inefficient.<\/p>\n<p>Pretend your forearm is a giant paddle and use it to push water backward as you move forward. Make sure those elbows stay high without crossing over as you drive your forearm through the water, all the while keeping those elbows rotating. Do this until your hands reach your hips, and at that point, move into \u201crecovery.\u201d When you finish what you start, you get more energy to begin the next stroke!<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_Else_Can_Your_SwimMirror_Do_So_Much_More%E2%80%A6\"><\/span>What Else Can Your SwimMirror Do? So Much More\u2026<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>It\u2019s impossible to list every possible swim mistake you can find with a pool mirror, but with feedback from your coach and teammates, you\u2019re bound to discover even more new ways to enhance your swim strokes.<\/p>\n<p><strong><br \/>\nReady to improve your swim stroke with SwimMirror? Find out how <a href=\"https:\/\/swimmirror.com\/\">here<\/a>!\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>See How SwimMirror Improves Your Swim Strokes in Real-Time! Stop me if you\u2019ve heard this before about your swim strokes: \u201cPractice doesn\u2019t make perfect. Perfect practice makes perfect.\u201d Just about every swimmer has heard this mantra from their coach at some point or another, but it\u2019s good advice for a reason: it\u2019s true. The more<a class=\"button\" href=\"https:\/\/swimmirror.com\/blog\/8-common-swim-stroke-mistakes-you-can-fix-with-swimmirror\/\" title=\"More\">Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":110,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[26,25,27],"tags":[13,14,16,15,40,6,52,7,12,9,10,8,11,5,41],"class_list":["post-74","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-kids-swim-training","category-swim-training","category-swimmirror-news","tag-backstroke","tag-breaststroke","tag-butterfly-stroke","tag-freestyle","tag-pool-mirror","tag-swim-gear","tag-swim-mirror","tag-swim-mistakes","tag-swim-shop","tag-swim-stroke","tag-swim-technique","tag-swim-tips","tag-swim-training","tag-swimmirror","tag-underwater-mirror"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/swimmirror.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/74","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/swimmirror.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/swimmirror.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swimmirror.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swimmirror.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=74"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/swimmirror.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/74\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":484,"href":"https:\/\/swimmirror.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/74\/revisions\/484"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swimmirror.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/110"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/swimmirror.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=74"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swimmirror.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=74"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swimmirror.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=74"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}