Why Your Freestyle Catch Isn't Working

Swimmer sometimes move their arm in the WRONG direction in order to setup their catch. In this video I'll show the correct way to set up your high elbow position

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[franklinwong]

OMG, thank you Brenton for that cue. Have been a subscriber to ES and make some initial great progress but then struggled. Times slowed and most of the time felt like swimming in molasses. But I still watch for your short YouTube videos and when I saw this one, I immediately recognized that was what I was doing. So this morning I tried just pointing my fingers down. Immediately I felt a lift in my swimming. And took 7 secs off my 100 yard time. Thanks.

[nboisen]

Excellent tip! I had been unwittingly pointing my fingers towards the body thinking that was necessary to form the power diamond. But this evening I implemented this tip and my distance per stroke increased noticeably. Thanks.

[theswimclub]

Right Brent.. the pulling with the hand down is great for increase in speed as it part of the straight overhead hand recovery in sprint swimming..So it works great to improve your speed

[tash]

I need to work on my thinking and thought process to adapt, this slow doggy drill, I’ll give it a go tomorrow at the pool . Nice vid and tips B Thanks

[thomasv.s.]

Thank you so much Brenton for all your videos!! You made me gain many seconds over 100 m through all your analysis and recommendations ! I feel ever so motivated now to carry that over to my first 70.3 next year :)

[Trinity]

Dear Brenton, first of all thanks for the great content! Question: How fast you can get only with goof technique without doing a lot of "meters" and interval programs? I guess 1:30- 1:20 on 100 meters? Thanks Michael

[aceleryful]

It's like you're trying to lift yourself out of the pool... Awesome and simple cue, thanks!!!

[mikealexander]

I think I only do this occasionally when fatigued. Over-rotating to breathe and/or catching too early are the likely causes. (If I could swim 2k like the first 25m I'd be a great swimmer LOL!)

[joequillun]

Brenton, you are explaining something we were taught (about 50 yrs ago) in freestyle. The "S" pull. We never heard it called the "catch". Since the inception of the net, (and your channel), I hear you continually teaching the catch, with the fingers down. I don't understand how it differs from the old style because whether your hand and fore-arm are pointing one way or the other, isn't the surface area the same? As long as the arm, and hand are pushing water rearward, I would think the effect would be similar.
Now I can see how the lats would be involved more in the "new" catch, and maybe provide a stronger pull, or less effort (?), if that's the entire reason for this style. Thanks for all you do here.

[jeffbush]

On WK3 of 8WK Faster Freestyle. Soooo great for me! 💪

[xilouwanping]

Coach, I have a question. When doing sideways kicks, the body position is much lower on one side. This is why

[samp]

quick question- if you had to
pick one piece of equipment to help your
training what would it be ? fins or pad or something else?

[Lamentta]

Hi Brent! Does your program have some kind of estimation in terms of where I start and what my goals should be? I'm 23 y/o, 6'3" 180lbs and want to improve my 100m freestyle.
I started swimming twice a week ~5 months ago, had zero technique and felt dead after 25m breaststroke. Three months ago I got my first <60 sec 50 meter, yesterday a 1:30 on 100m short course with block start (but no flip turns).
Your 8 week faster freestyle course sounds like a good start, but ideally I'd like to reach some more mid-long term goals.

Can I sign up to Effortless Swimming now and aim for a 1:10 by the end of the year and sub 60 sec next summer? Or are my goals unrealistic? Thanks

[tamunotonyeedward]

Hi Brenton. Will wearing a paddle always not naturally help your catch?