Last Updated on February 16, 2024 by admin
In this article, we’ll provide drills, hacks and tips for developing a feel for the water, to help achieve maximum propulsion.
What is a ‘feel for the water’?
A feel for the water is the ability of a swimmer to place their hands and arms in the correct position, with the optimum force to obtain maximum propulsion.
- This is developed through the consistent and persistent application of a series of correct swimming techniques.
Guarding against slipping in the water
Many younger or less experienced swimmers tend to exert near-maximum force on their strokes when attempting to swim at speed.
- This can lead to the swimmer failing to place their hands in the correct position which could result in their ‘slipping’ in the water.
- This means they may not be catching the water correctly during the pulling phases of the strokes
- To prevent ‘slipping’ in the water, swimmers should develop a feel for the water and the ability to anchor their hands in the correct position to achieve maximum hand and arm propulsion.
Developing a feel for the water is a key competitive swimming skill and therefore should be practised regularly in training.
Developing a feel for the water
Listed below are some of our favourite methods to help develop a swimmer’s feel for the water.
Swim Individual Medley
Individual medley swimming can help improve the swimmer’s feel for the water.
- It requires the swimmer to position their hands and arms in a variety of different positions, whilst performing different strokes.
Related article on individual medley training
We have produced a related article, on individual medley training. You can view it by clicking this link: Individual medley training.
Sculling drills
Sculling is often overlooked as a key swimming skill.
- Efficient sculling skills can give the swimmer ‘a feel for the water’.
- They can help them place their hands in the correct position.
- This can help them to achieve maximum propulsion during the completion of the arm stroke.
- Sculling is a great drill to introduce during a warm-up, cool-down or recovery swim.
Related article a guide to swimming sculling
We have produced a related article, a guide to swimming sculling. You can view it by clicking this link: a guide to swimming sculling
Super slow swimming
Introduction: Super slow swimming is an excellent drill to improve stroke technique and a feel for the water, especially for younger or less experienced swimmers.
How to perform this drill: Quite simply, swimmers should swim as slowly as they can, and at the same time swim with the best technique they can.
Super slow swimming – with a stroke count
Introduction: This drill combines super slow swimming with a stroke count.
- This drill helps to further develop a swimmer’s feel for the water but helps them focus on their stroke technique.
How to perform this progression: For this drill the swimmers add stroke counting to their super-slow swimming, to add extra focus to the length of their stroke.
Pull with pull buoy with fists
Introduction: An arm-pulling drill that can develop the swimmer’s ‘feel for the water’ by the introduction of clenched fists.
How to perform this progression: This drill can be conducted over repeat sets of 100m/200m.
- Or, as I prefer, conducting a ‘pyramid’ in 100m steps i.e. 100m, 200m, 300m, 400m, 300m, 200m, 100m (steps of 50m for younger swimmers).
- For this drill as well as a pull buoy, swimmers pull while clenching their fists.
- This adds extra resistance to the arm pull and necessitates the swimmer to pull longer and harder and use their forearms as means of propulsion.
- Ensure the swimmers have a high elbow on the recovery phase, to assist maximum stroke length.
- Often once swimmers have completed this drill with fists, when they go back to normal pulling with unclenched fists, most swimmers develop a better feel for the water and therefore some swimmers pull more effectively.
Pull with fists and open hands
Introduction: Swimmers can further develop their ‘feel for the water’ by performing alternate clenched fists and open-hand swimming.
How to perform this progression: For this progression, the swimmer can swim with or without a pull buoy.
- Swimmers should swim six arm strokes with clenched fists and six strokes with a normal open hand.
- Ensure the swimmers have a high elbow on the recovery phase, to assist maximum stroke length.
Swimming with hand and finger paddles
Swimming with hand and finger paddles is an established part of many swimming training programmes.
Performing alternate sets with hand or finger paddles can help the swimmer develop a feel for the water.
Related article on training with hand paddles
We have produced a related article on training with hand paddles. You can view it by clicking this link: training with hand paddles.
Swimming equipment
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Some coaches encourage their swimmers to use some standard swimming equipment when developing their feel for the water such as, snorkels and pull buoys
Takeaway
A feel for the water is the ability of a swimmer to place their hands and arms in the correct position, with the optimum force to obtain maximum propulsion.
- This is developed through the consistent and persistent application of a series of correct swimming techniques.
Swimming resource library
We have produced a swimming resource library.
- This contains links to our ever-expanding portfolio of blog posts.
- These are subdivided by swimming category
Categories include: Swimmer Development | Swimmers Health | Swimming Coaching | Swimming Competition | Swimming Drills | Swimming Dryland/Land Training | Swimming Equipment | Swimming Psychology | Swimming Training
- To access our library simply click on the attached page link: swimming resource library
Swimming Publications
We produce a growing range of publications on a wide range of swimming subjects.
- These include competitive swimming drill publications for backstroke, breaststroke, butterfly and freestyle.
- Which are now available in both Amazon Kindle and paperback formats.
- For information regarding our portfolio please follow our link: Swimming publications
Swimming equipment
We have provided a recommended swimming equipment page.
- It contains swimming equipment that we and our swimmers use and recommend.
- You can access this page by clicking on the following link: swimming equipment
The Competitive Swimming Exchange – Facebook Group
The Competitive Swimming Exchange. Is a Facebook group to help exchange ideas and information to collectively improve the sport we love.
- It’s an international group for all swimmers, coaches, teachers, masters, triathletes and swimming parents.
- In fact, it’s for all those who are interested in competitive swimming, either in the pool or in open water.
For more information about joining this group please use the following link: The Competitive Swimming Exchange