Swimming Tips & Stroke Techniques
If you are new to swimming
and want to swim on a regular basis for fitness, or maybe
challenge yourself at the competition level, I recommend
joining your local masters swim
team. You can get some coaching and direction,
and you can give as much or as little commitment to the team
as you like.
Although swimming is a pretty independent sport, there seems to
be a lot of camaraderie on a swim team. There are actually a
lot of masters swimming members who are just learning the
sport. It can be a great non-intimidating environment for
beginners. You may even realize a whole new appreciation
for swimming.
You'll also find that besides simply swimming laps, you
can participate in open water swims, triathlons, relay races
and other competitive swimming events that are a lot of
fun.
The Revolutionary Way to Swim
Better, Faster & Easier
Did you know that being a strong swimmer is a result of
technique - not necessarily athletic ability
or body type?
Top-ranked Masters Swimmer Terry Laughlin
can help you improve your swimming form and stroke - with a
workout that requires less effort. His
step-by-step instruction is perfect for
beginners. I refer back to this book consistently to
remind myself of drills and techniques that I can practice to
improve apon my stroke.
- How to improve your swimming speed through swimming
form;
"Swim Like a
Fish", and you surprisingly don't have
to be any stronger to swim faster.
- Simple step-by-step drills that you
can practice to - what, make swimming
easier?
- A land-and-water program that can give you a
strong body at any age.
- Want to burn fat? Terry will tell you how to swim to
burn off the most fat.
120 Workouts &
Training Tips for Swimmers
Swimming is a super great way to get in shape and stay in
shape, but swimming hundreds of laps can get boring. If you
want work a fun workout that you look
forward to - one that helps you swim faster and
builds muscle tone and flexibility - check out these
awesome tips from Masters Swimmer and Coach Marianne
Brems. Click here >> Workouts for
Fitness Swimming
Triathlon Training
in Just 4 Hours a Week If
you've never competed in a triathlon before and
don't know where to get started, Triathlete Eric Harr can
help you. He went from having no exercise routine to
training for a triathlon - and enjoying it. He shares
secrets he learned - including ways to save time and
money that are especially helpful for someone who already
leads a busy lifestyle.
Think you can't do a triathlon? Think
again!
- Great Tip: how to get the right gear
without blowing your budget
- How you can put together your own
training program (really!)
and become faster while making
training easier
- The best fuel for peak perfromance,
how you can strengthen by
stretching, + avoiding injuries
- Get Started
>> How to
Swim Easier, Cycle Stronger and Run
Faster
What to Get: Swimming Gear
 
Men's
Swimsuits | Women's
Swimsuits
If you plan to swim on a regular basis, you want to get a
sturdy swimsuit that will hold up the longest in chlorine.
When I started swimming, I purchased a competition swimsuit
made of nylon fabric. Even though it was an average-priced
swimsuit, it only lasted about 30 swims.
Instead, I recommend Long-Lasting Swimsuits with
PBT. PBT is a polyester
blend fabic with a little rougher texture. In
addition, suits double-lined in both the front and back
of the suit offer additional durability. You
can see a comparison here >>
Swimsuit Fabric Information
Chart
- Swim
Goggles
Look for anti-fog goggles, if you don't get them, you'll
wish you had. Also, some goggles also offer UV protection.
Before you replace your old pair of foggy goggles, try
Anti-Fog Drops for
Goggles to clear them right
up!
- Swim
Caps
Caps are mainly made from either silicone or latex. A
silicone cap will cost you more, but will way outlast
latex, while pulling less at your hair. Since a silicone
cap is thicker than latex, I've been told that it keeps
your head warmer as well - something to think about if
you're doing open water swims.
- Wetsuits
& Triathlon Swimming Gear
In my experience with open water swimming, if the water is
70 degrees or warmer, you're better off without a wetsuit.
Make sure you don't do what I did on my first open water
swim: use a short-sleeved "shorty" wetsuit a size too big.
That will really give you some extra drag you don't need.
The sleeveless style will give your arms greater
flexibility, and a lower neckline will help you avoid
friction rashes from neck rotation. Ouch! (You can use a
lubricant like Body
Glide to stop chafing, blisters
and rashes from wetsuits and other gear.)
- Swim
Fins
You may be surprised to see how many choices of fins you
have. I've been told that the best type of fin to use comes
down to personal preference. They both help you build leg
strength. I see an equal amount of people using short fins
and long fins.
- Swim Pull
Buoys
Buoys help you develop upper body strength and proper body
alignment. When you improve your body alignment while
swimming, you can actually swim faster without exerting
more effort.
- Swim
Paddles
These provide extra resistance and help at developing upper
body strength while using a pull buoy.
- Swim
Stretch Cords
If you only have access to a small pool, you can use these
resistance training belts to make your workout more
effective. Some cords attach to your waist, and some to
your feet.
- Kickboards
Kickboards are a great training aid for, you guessed it,
kicking. Besides strengthening your leg muscles, I've found
it to be an easy way to add variety to your workouts.
Swimming News &
Tips
- Exercises
for Swimming
Strength training exercises for swimming. Swimming involves
all major muscle groups, so any weakness will affect your
performance. Use these exercises to help you improve -
whether for fitness or competitive swimming.
- Open Water
Swimming Techniques
Open water swimming is much different that swimming in a
pool. Learn open water-specific skills and techniques that
will help you in your triathlons and swim races.
- How to
Increase Your Speed, Strength and
Agility
Strength training can do more for your stroke than you may
think. And you don't even have to have access to weights to
do effective strength training for swimming. Follow the
easy tips on this website. Great visual
demonstrations.
- Training
for Cold Water Swimming
I would have never thought I'd like cold water swimming
until I tried it. If you are swimming an open water swim
(especially if without a wetsuit), it's important to
acclimatize your body to the cold conditions. (TIP: Wearing
2 swim caps can help your body retain heat.) If you have a
cold body of water nearby, you may be able to find a
swimming or triathlon group that you can join on their cold
water swimming excursions. It's important not to swim alone
in cold conditions. Also, wear a bright-colored cap so
people can see you. Here are some more cold water
swimming
tips.
Where to Swim: Swimming Pools, Clubs & Teams
- Places to
Swim
Listings for hundreds (maybe thousands) of masters swimming
programs across the USA. Includes location, contact
information and workout times for each. Some listings have
individual websites where you can get more information.
Masters swimming rocks!
 Who to
Swim With:
- Find
People to Swim With
Find people in your area who are interested in swimming,
and make new friends who enjoy spending time in the water
as much as you do.
- Swimming
Groups
Find a group of beginner
and experienced swimmers near you and around the world
through a free online service called Meetup.com.
Although you don't necessarily need to meet other people
for lap swimming, this can be a great resource for
finding people for open water swimming.
Swimming Articles
Swimming Organizations:
USA
Swimming
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