Do Swimming Drills ACTUALLY Work or are you WASTING YOUR TIME?
Do Swimming Drills ACTUALLY Work or are you WASTING YOUR TIME?
Swimming drills are a common tool used by swimmers to break down their strokes into manageable components, focusing on specific aspects like body position, kick, or catch. By isolating these elements, swimmers can refine their technique and improve efficiency in the water. However, the effectiveness of drills is largely dependent on the frequency and quality of practice. For swimmers who only hit the pool once or twice a week, spending a small portion of their session on drills may not yield significant improvements. In fact, without proper repetition and guidance, drills can sometimes reinforce bad habits rather than correct them.
Moreover, it’s important to recognize that swimming technique can be influenced by non-swimming exercises. For example, exercises like rowing or lat pull-downs may conflict with swimming-specific movements by ingraining opposing muscle patterns. This can undo the benefits of swim drills if not properly balanced.
For swimmers who don’t have frequent access to the pool or lack professional guidance, focusing on dryland exercises that mimic swimming movements can be a more effective strategy. Resistance band exercises or functional movements that replicate the catch and pull phases of swimming can help build muscle memory and improve technique outside the water.
Ultimately, while drills can be beneficial for frequent swimmers with proper technique supervision, infrequent swimmers may benefit more from alternative training methods that allow them to refine their form consistently and efficiently.
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See you out there!
Dave Knight
Head Coach and Founder - Do3.
