Episode 21: What Holds Swimmers Back from Improving

This comprehensive swim technique presentation reveals what really holds swimmers back and why swimming improvement is so different from cycling or running progress. As a Swim Smooth certified coach, Chris breaks down the five major swimming technique faults that prevent triathletes from swimming faster, demonstrating why swimming drills for adults require a completely different approach than other endurance sports. Learn about the six Swim Smooth swim types and discover which category fits your current stroke patterns, from Bambinos struggling with anxiety, to Arnies trying to overpower the water, to Overgliders who want to TALK about swimming, rather than swim. This triathlon- and open-water swimming tips session covers essential techniques like proper catch and pull mechanics, fixing the dreaded crossover swimming fault, and developing effective bilateral breathing technique for open water conditions. Chris talks about common mistakes like straight-arm catch-and-pulls that act like brakes, bringing the hands forward too soon during recovery, and poor kick mechanics that waste energy. Chris demonstrates proven swimming drills and ankle mobility exercises that address these issues, showing how the Swim Smooth coaching method focuses on individual swimmer needs rather than copying elite swimmer techniques. Whether you're preparing for your first triathlon or looking to break through a swimming plateau, this session provides the technical foundation every adult swimmer needs. From understanding why swimming ankle mobility matters to learning proper freestyle swimming technique, these insights will transform your approach to training in the water. This episode is quite visual! If you want to see everything that’s going on, check out the video on our YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/1hbj52I7sQs