[Closed] Swimming in a straight line

Can you not look at the black line on the floor of the pool?

Better technique! You're probably reaching/rolling more to one side. If you're using just brute strength from your arms then you must get tired very quickly. Power through the water is important, but control and technique is more so. Try to focus on stroke length and rolling your body.

Also, do you breathe both sides or just the one? If just the one is this the side you tend to pull to? If so then it's definitely technique.

Goggles and eyes open looking down will at least let you swim straight in a pool.

On the other hand, being able to swim straight without seeing is useful, particularly if you ever swim outside, and being symmetrical may avoid muscle strains and things.

Fixing it is probably to do with making your stroke even and not one-sided. You might not be rotating evenly to both sides, or you might have an inefficient pull on one side, or you might be crossing your arm over on one side or something. I knew a guy who used to pull straight with one arm, then slide the other arm off way to the side, never knew he was doing it until he saw a video.

Do you breathe on one side only? If you do, you could try breathing both sides (once per 3 strokes). A good thing to be able to do, as it encourages a symmetrical stroke.

Swimsmooth.com is great for tips and videos on crawl.

Oh, and kick along the pool and get someone to look at your feet, some people do some weird asymmetrical stuff with their kick.

I always follow the lines on the bottom of the pool. Easy,.

Not that I'd try it when sharing a lane, but if you have a nice symmetrical stroke, it's possible to swim a length eyes closed and remain in the lane. Easiest if you push off then close your eyes.

Lift your head enough to sight every few strokes.

Following the line on the bottom

thanks! - I do breath on only one side, that's true. I think I will try both sides from now on. I tried the lane on the floor but it was of no help, so it sounds like I need a better technique

On the other hand, being able to swim straight without seeing is useful, particularly if you ever swim outside

I've been practising sea swimming. I find it useful every six or eight breaths to snatch a foreward glance to sight on something. Breaks up the monotony.

I have still not yet figured out how to avoid getting gobfuls of sea water though.. almost puked last time.

I have still not yet figured out how to avoid getting gobfuls of sea water though.. almost puked last time

Easy, don't breathe when your face is forwards, either:
1)eyes forwards and up slightly to sight then drop head to side and breathe,
or
2)breathe, then turn forwards and sight.

http://www.swimsmooth.com/open-water-swimming.html

I get gobfuls of water at all times, even when breathing on the side. It was quite choppy on that day, I think that made it worse.

Sighting is good and necessary for open water swimming, but if you've got bad technique then sighting will exaggerate it and you'll end up swimming zig zags which gets tiring 🙂

Molgrips - are you breathing on the side the waves are coming at you? If it's choppy and you're swimming open water just breathe every 2 or 4 strokes on the same side (where the waves aren't hitting you). If you're still getting mouthfuls you might want to lift your head up a bit 🙂

I worked out that it is better to breathe on the down-wave side.. I prefer to breathe every 3 strokes to alternate sides, but I suppose I don't have that choice in the sea.

Stroke training. Nowt else will ever improve you, seriously.

Following the line on the bottom

Whose bottom?