Why Do My Legs Sink?

Is learning to float all that important?

Short answer = NO!

(I cannot float naturally and I've been swimming for 30+ years!)

It's a misconception that we need to float to be able to swim. This usually stems from taking swimming lessons as kids where a lot of time is spent trying to float both on the front and back. Starfish anyone?

If your legs sink that does not mean you cannot learn to balance.

It is possible to teach yourself to float (but not necessary) by experimenting with your head position, hand positions, core and glute muscle activation. Give it a try and let me know how you get on!

But thankfully you do not need to masters this before learning to swim. All we need is to kick enough to balance.

Check out this video next:

Now, head to the pool and Swim Smart!

[koleszgdanska]

After years of building muscles imagine my surprise when I realized Im worse at swimming 😂

[debojyotichoudhury]

It’s been a month and I am dedicated learner but still I can’t float. My legs constantly sink.
My swimming coaches r telling me my waist is very stiff but they are not telling me how can I fix this. Can anybody plz help me to float.

[speedo]

i've been dealing with this issue all my aquatic years. i'm a usms swimmer, coached for 50+ years, taught swimming forever and do personal training for folkss whp want to improve. it all comes down to your body's specific than 1, you float, more than 1 you sink to varying degrees. and yes, i agree floating or being a floater is not that important. the lower body is muscularly dense espeially if you are an atheltic type. i had an awful time passing the lifeguard course due to the fact i could not carry the 10 lb. weight 20yards on my back back in feb. 2020. i'm not only a poor floater, i'm a sinker. the best i can do to reduce drag and be efficient is to keep my head low and maintain the best kick i can do. many instructors, coaches and aquatic afficienados have tried over the decades to get me to WAY. it's all about body density and specific gravity , period. i invite feedback from any and all.

[HumanPlanetEarth]

Make a slight arch from the middle body by raising feet upwards and hips down. Check if that works for yous.

[speedo]

one of my favorite concepts to my students is to rtry to develop a 2 beat kick. you'd be amazed how it slows everything down, promotes more relaxation and smooths out the entire stroke. that along with bilateral breathing has been wake up call for many i've dealt with. the 6 beat kick is way over emphasized by instructors. and it contributes to body balance issues, flat swimming and anxiety for many. the finger tip drag, distance per cycle drill and catch up stroke are my favorites for developing smoothness, quietness upon entry and a more balanced rhythm as the arms and legs are in sync.

[HarshLaughAndLifts]

I go to the gym regularly and have little muscular body. I can swim under water but i’m not able to float on the water due to which i always get problem in breathing while swimming.
(When i bend my legs a little bit like child in mother’s womb then my whole back floats. But what’s the point of that then?)

[JAMESlock]

Yes my legs sink also. Stretching yourself out like you have shown helps. Think superman flying 😃 Ultimately we sinkers have to spend more time in the pool to practice.

[patrickshields]

Thanks. Quick question for you if you don't mind. As soon as I breath on my left side and my face re-enters the water my right leg drops way down in the water. Other than this I remain quite horizontal apart from a big right leg drop when my head heads back under water after breathing.
Also I have a crossover kick.

[SmartK]

I never understood how can some people drown on calm waters. I can stay afloat (on my back) forever (until I die of other causes) if need be. It cannot be because of just fat/muscle.. it must bone density or something else.

[VasilaMalak]

My problem is the opposite. I can’t sit in water I just float . How do I fix that?

[LockedNloadEED]

My husband sinks like a rock. He can swim, but it’s pointless if you can’t float. If you can’t float, you tire quickly and drown. I want to help him fix this. I can swim from one side of a lake to the other, because I can rest on my back. I can float. I want to help my husband. I’m afraid for him when he’s in the water.

[KissmyBasss]

My butt and legs always sink, when I was fit and now in my hefty 50's, people never believe until I show them.

[Shwe]

I’m also sink in water and while doing breaststroke I can’t go further, rather I go back automatically. Why is that so ? Also my hands movement make my legs also move in opposite direction due to which i can’t swim at all. Pls help with exercise or techniques to learn swimming

[msbutterfly]

I can float on my back all day long but when my son goes to do it, his legs sink like a rock. So if we were in a predicament I would float and he would wind up drowning. Why do mens legs sink?

[jogmas]

I’m 6’1” 190 lbs. I never had a problem with my legs sinking. Front or back float

[missmew]

I’m trying this! Let’s see how effective my core is ;)

[hosoiarchives]

I sink straight to the bottom there is nothing you can do

[Tren_is_okay]

It’s only has to do with one thing relaxation but it’s subconscious. Nothing to do with BMI etc.

Tiny and skinny my who life with no body fat I would float like a pool noddle. Then once we were swimming long distant I almost drown swimming across a large lake and could float anymore took years to gain trust in myself but it came back.

If you were unconscious you would always float it’s the same as flexibility if you’re unconscious you can move someone’s limbs anywhere no resistance until you walk again. Weird…