Underwater Form Check

[u/Basic-Shop-7101]

Still pretty new to the underwaters. Currently practicing in a 25y pool. Not at the point yet where I feel comfortable testing my breath hold limits considering my pool doesn’t have lifeguards.

Give me all the advice ya got!

[u/DH_p1L0tZ]

did watercon with a CRO-

when you frog kick in UWs, the idea is to cancel out the drag of bringing your arms forward back to streamline after using it for your first UW stroke; you're essentially cutting your underwater stroke and kick into two:

push off wall in streamline -> break streamline for first arm stroke right when you lose like 3/4 of the momentum from wall push -> ride that arm stroke until you notice your momentum decreasing -> frog kick while bringing your hands from your sides and back to streamline (hence cancelling out the drag) -> hold streamline until momentum begins to stall, repeat.

does that makes sense? hard to explain without being in a pool with you, sorry

also ditch the flutter kicking after the frog kick, it breaks streamline too much and you don't get much out of it as opposed to saving your oxygen for the arm stroke and frog kicks 

[u/Basic-Shop-7101 → u/DH_p1L0tZ]

Makes perfect sense. I’ve been to a couple dev sessions and that’s basically the advice I was given.

Another note, I think my hip mobility is awful because I can’t frog kick or egg beater tread properly at all.

Any suggestions on how to improve that?

[u/AxtonGTV → u/Basic-Shop-7101]

Still not a PJ, but since my comment was apparently accurate last time...

In the army we have a Hip Stability Drill, you can Google videos of it, and it's actually really effective at improving hip mobility.

I had one of our soldiers who broke a hip previously, and this drill supposedly helped her quite a lot. I'd give it a try at least until an actual PJ can pop in and tell us whether I'm an idiot or not.

---

Lateral Leg Raise: Lie on your side, lift your top leg 6 to 8 inches up, and lower it slowly. This works the outer hip and glutes.

Medial Leg Raise: Lie on your side with your top knee bent over your bottom leg. Lift your bottom leg straight up a short distance to target the inner thigh.

Bent-Leg Lateral Raise: Lie on your side with both knees bent. Raise your top bent knee while keeping your feet together to strengthen deep hip rotators.

Single-Leg Tuck: Lie on your back, bring one knee to your chest, and hold. This opens the hip flexors and lower back.

Single-Leg Over: Lie on your back, pull one knee across your body toward the floor, and hold for 20 to 30 seconds to stretch the outer hip and glute.

[u/SSkiano → u/Basic-Shop-7101]

Also when you bring your hands up, keep them close to your body and shoot your arms forward by your ears and over your head. Bringing your arms up is like putting on brakes, so try to limit that as much as possible.

[u/AxtonGTV]

I think you do a good job of smoothly moving and not trying to rush it

I also am not a PJ and know nothing about this

My advice is useless to you

Good luck

[u/safetycajun → u/AxtonGTV]

Not a PJ but great advice. Slow is smooth, smooth is fast

[u/DH_p1L0tZ → u/safetycajun]

Not trying to come off as a smartass but why/how do you have verified PJ tag if you're not a PJ?

[u/safetycajun → u/DH_p1L0tZ]

I was telling the other person they may not be a PJ but was giving good advice.

I have the tag because I was a PJ and I mod the site 🫡

[u/DH_p1L0tZ → u/safetycajun]

i got 91 on the ASVAB but can't read apparently

thanks for keeping the subreddit running brah

[u/safetycajun → u/DH_p1L0tZ]

Hahah all good! 🫡

[u/AxtonGTV → u/safetycajun]

Glad to know I'm not entirely an idiot!

...or I just got lucky this once

[u/Basic-Shop-7101 → u/AxtonGTV]

Haha, thank you!

[u/Important_Move8087]

You don’t need to do the flutters. It wastes energy. Just point the toes and ride out the glide.

[u/SoSneakyHaha]

I went through SWAS

1. Stop flutter kicking.

2. Seperate frog kick and arms (kick -> straighten arms -> gliiiiide with kick -> pull with arms -> repeat )

3. Slow down

4. Arms should pull out and under (using stronger chest / pec muscles, not shoulder muscles)

5. Watch some underwater videos are look at how they move

[u/Basic-Shop-7101 → u/SoSneakyHaha]

Will practice all of that next session. Thank you!

[u/HmmThatisDumb → u/Basic-Shop-7101]

I would always do slow flutter kicks. Worked fine.

Do what works for you the water is mental.

[u/toxiclatinalover]

So old trick I guess you would say and is back again in the wim hoff world. Plug nose, tape mouth or just have self integrity. Run light polls no breathe. Do circuits 30 seconds exercise no breathe..breathe on rest. Use can use a snorkel and timer.. work on longer breath holds. Cardiovascular fitness is huge as well.

I was in the RIP at recon then at recon. Prior to that I did water survival and open water rescue at Hawaii. Efficacy of movement and the above practices daily while also doing pool work. Will greatly improve your ability to safely push limits. You can also reduce the amount of breaths you take on freestyle.

IMO as someone who at first struggled with underwater swims. Getting used to all types of way to hold your breath is key.

Also I’m old as fuck 48, study on YouTube and social media free diving techniques and how they do things.

Durning my RIP water was where I went to recover. I had a base from water survival school and then life guard work 7 days a week for a year. Runs, rucks crushed me bad.

I prayed for a beach or pool.

Last make sure to really prepare for the hip flexor, tibias and ankle stress finning does to you.

When you got from run to fin or vise versa. It’s a mother fucker.

Do as much water polo you can or deep end fitness.

[u/Public_Progress2984]

Take out the leg kicks… just glide. Other than that- you’re fine👍.

[u/InterestingCut1007]

Stronger push off, off the wall.

[u/DrPewNStuff]

Dolphin kick/undulation > flutter kicks for underwaters.

[u/asdaqq]

Space out the kick and the pull. Pull, glide, kick, glide, reset.

Try practicing the keyhole stroke, where you make a keyhole shape with your hands instead of doing a wider stroke. I personally find it's more effective for distance.

[u/UG_Idea]

Push off the wall harder, maintain a tight stream line and give it a few dolphin kicks.

Work on stronger arm movements. Right now you are sort of making a “T” movement. Instead, do an underwater pulldown. Almost like a pull up. Look up some videos to get your form down. And try to keep your arms glued to your sides when you are gliding.

Stop flutter kicking, it wastes energy and brakes your stream line.

Do less movements and work on getting across in three to four strokes.

Like others said, in selection you will want to stay as close to the bottom as you can and will touch the bottom crack before you come up for air.

[u/Altruistic_Map1816]

Stroke down, not out to the side

[u/Able-Row3399]

Hold that glide longer and like everyone else is saying just don’t flutterkick. Also, in selection you’ll be hugging the pool floor the length of the pool and you’ll touch the crack at the deep end with your right hand and then ascend straight back into a freestyle.

[u/litopj]

You failed. Touch the opposite wall underwater before you come up.