Proper swimming form is closely related to the swimming style you are performing. For example if you are freestyle swimming, to do it properly, you will need to follow and adhere to certain things that you wouldn’t need to follow if you were swimming on your back.
Many swimmers can get lazy at times and fall into our own way of doing things, however, if you want to swim fast and efficiently, then following a proper swim form is the best way to go.
What Even Is Proper Swimming Form?
If you aren’t familiar with the idea of proper swimming form, it can be a bit confusing for you. Proper swimming form is the methodology of swimming in a manner that ensures that you perform the necessary movements in a proper and right manner. Basically you swim as it was intended.
Proper swimming form will not only maximize your benefits from swimming but it will also help increase your safety and enable you to ensure the safety of others. Proper swimming form however isn’t one specific set of rules, instead it is a bit more than that.
Diversity In Proper Swimming Form
Proper swimming form is closely related to the swimming style you are performing. For example if you are freestyle swimming, to do it properly, you will need to follow and adhere to certain things that you wouldn’t need to follow if you were swimming on your back.
The best way to learn proper swimming form is to have a professional teach you about it. Since proper swimming form is situational and based on your activities, a professional can answer your specific questions about your needs and desires.
If you are taking swimming lessons, make sure to ask your tutor about proper swimming form, regarding the technique you’re learning. Of course, a proper tutor will show you proper swimming form even before you can ask.
General Tips For Proper Swimming Form
Don’t hold your breath all the time
Proper swimming form is closely connected to proper breathing. A lot of the time, the biggest mistake people make is holding their breath during intervals where they should be breathing. For proper swimming form, you need to make sure to take deep breaths at the right time.
Use the right muscles
One thing that you will have to do in any sort of swimming to achieve proper swimming form, is to use your muscles correctly. For example, relax your neck and back, if you are freestyle swimming, use only the muscles you need to create movements and don’t try to involve your every muscle.
Learn the strokes
When you first learn a new technique, make sure you learn it in the right way. If you learn the basics well enough and implement them in your routine as they were intended, you are essentially keeping proper swimming form.
Pay attention to your surroundings
This is a general tip in life, but it also applies for swimming when trying to achieve proper form. See if there’s something around you that can put your rhythm in jeopardy, if so, try and avoid it. Of course you can’t do this all the time, and some swimming techniques make it harder than others, but you can always check before you start moving.
Exhale into the water
Another tip that is connected with breathing is the idea of always exhaling in the water. Virtually all of the swimming techniques require that you breathe in when your head is out of the water, then going back inside to breathe out.
Safety takes priority
No matter what the circumstance, proper swim form is about safety. Yes, proper swim form will make sure that you get the most out of the benefits that swimming offers. However the goal should always be safety. Always make sure that you are safe yourself and just as importantly, that you aren’t putting others in danger.
When it comes to swimming, just like with everything else in life, mistakes can happen in a snap. Sometimes, the stakes are very high with swimming, and a single mistake can turn into a life or death situation. Proper form is hopefully going to help you avoid these situations and ensure you enjoy swimming as much as possible…
