How to Swim a Faster Backstroke, by Understanding Freestyle:
Backstroke can be a challenging stroke, even for those swimmers who have already mastered Freestyle. The Backstroke stroke is often misleading to a Pro-Freestyler due to the fact it’s VERY fundamentally similar to Freestyle. Just because you’ve conquered Freestyle, doesn’t mean your Backstroke will come easy. In our next series, I plan to explain THREE ways these two strokes […]
Part III: Start Breakdown: A “Butterfly” Versus a “Sling-Shot” Start
Welcome back to Part III of our starts series! Two weeks ago, we discussed what the BEST possible “take your mark” position a swimmer could get in. This week, we are going to dive deeper into the differences between a “butterfly” and a “sling-shot” start—that way you can decide which starting technique (in relation to the arm […]
Part II: How to Properly Setup for a Track Start
Welcome back to Part II of our starts series! Last week, we discussed how using your arms while performing a track start generates the MOST propulsion of any starting technique out there. This week, we are going to dive deeper into what proper block setup looks like for a track start. We will be breaking down […]
Engage Your Arms On Your Starts!
Welcome back to our new technique series on starts! First off, I would like to apologize for my lack of posts recently. My house was destroyed by Hurricane Irma, so I was offline dealing with that and moving myself into a new place. Overall, the rebuilding process has been moving along fairly quickly–but this whole disaster is […]
Part III: Freestyle Flipturns–A Consistent Push-Off Leads to a FASTER Breakout!
Welcome back to our last and final segment on Freestyle Flipturns! I know we took a 2-week hiatus, so if you can’t quite remember what Part II was about–[CLICK HERE] for a refresher! In Part’s I and II, we discussed the approach into the wall and the turn at the wall. This leaves only one major […]
Part II: Freestyle Flipturns–the Smaller the Ball—the Faster the Turn!
Welcome back to Part II of our series on Freestyle Flipturns. This week, we are going to discuss the turn itself, and how a swimmer can carry their fast speed through the approach and the turn! If you missed Part I of this series on the approach into the wall, click here to learn the 3 […]
Part I: Freestyle Flipturn–A Focused Approach makes for a Fast Flipturn
Welcome back to our NEW series on Freestyle Flipturns! In our new 3-part series, we will be breaking down the Freestyle Flipturn into 3 main segments: the approach, the flip, and the push-off. Each post will build on top of the last to help your swimmer’s improve their Freestyle Flipturns! Let’s get started… If you think about […]
28 Degrees and We’re Swimming!
Last week, Stroke Technique Coach, Abbie Fish traveled out to Coos Bay Oregon to work with Head Coach, Sandra Bullock and the Southwestern Oregon’s Swim Team. This was Abbie’s first on-site clinic with the SWOCC swim team, where she ran through 4 x 2-hour stroke technique sessions. Hitting every single stroke, starts, and turns—Abbie brought another set of […]
Freestyle Analysis: Olympic Hopeful–Logan Storie
Ever wondered what kind of advice Coach Abbie would have for an Ex-Division I Swimmer (University of Florida Graduate), Olympic Trials Qualifier, and current WR Holder? Check out Abbie’s [Freestyle Analysis] of Olympic Hopeful, Logan Storie’s Freestyle below–for FREE! In this stroke analysis, Coach Abbie breaks down National Team Pentathlete, Logan Storie’s Freestyle. Within this video, Abbie dissects 2 technical aspects of Logan’s […]
Part II: Freestyle Recovery–4 Touch Drill
Welcome back to the second part of our series on the High Elbow Recovery! This week, we will be discussing a drill that helps you achieve a “High Elbow Recovery”, along with improving the 3 technical aspects needed for a “High Elbow Recovery”. Not sure what those technical aspects are, check out last week’s post HERE! Let’s get […]
Part I: High Elbow Freestyle Recovery…Why?
In the stroke technique world, there is a lot of emphasis on a high elbow pull—but not necessarily, a high elbow recovery. Every fan, swimmer, swammer, or coach has taken a moment to be in awe of the effortlessness of Michael Phelps Freestyle–it’s so graceful. What most people don’t understand is how Michael swims Freestyle […]
Part III: The Speed of Caeleb Dressel’s Breaststroke Pullouts
Recently, at the 2018 SEC Championships, Caeleb Dressel swam the 100-yard Breaststroke in NCAA Record time of 50.03 seconds. During his race, Caeleb spent over 50% underwater (55% to be exact), and it couldn’t be better timing for us, since we are finishing up our blog series on the IMPORTANCE of dolphin kicking placement during Breaststroke Pullouts! In case […]