What is the best way to breathe while swimming freestyle?

Question

When I swim I hold my breath briefly prior to exhaling. I do this underwater so by the time I reach the surface to breathe I have the air exhaled and can inhale once I roll to the surface. I have read and spoke to other people that they exhale the entire time under water. So they're either exhaling or inhaling, but never holding their breath. I was wondering the best way to breathe.

Answer 1

The question is how deeply do you want to breath the next stroke.. that should be determining how much you exhale

If you are recovering or starting a very long race.. you should breath and exhale deeply

If you are sprinting or getting ready for the end.. you should breath less and so you have to hold your breath

College sprinters dont breath for a whole 50 yrds, but distance swimmers breath every 2 strokes... it varies

One thing for sure you dont want to be doing, is exhaling when your mouth is outside of the water.. cause that means you are taking time out of when you can breath.. and so you slow down to breath

Answer 2

Breathing While Swimming Freestyle

Answer 3

I was always taught to exhale some the whole time so you arent holding in the air. Mentally I think it slowed me down when I didnt. I also was taught in competive Freestyle to breathe at a certain number of strokes on the same side to help with my pacing/timing and to always breath midway into the wall if a flip was involved so you got the farthest push out you could without the need to breath.

Answer 4

The best way to breath for freestyle is to side breath.
You want to exhale before you turn your head to the side so that way your not trying to exhale and inhale at the same time.
When you side breath you also want the bottom half of your goggle to be in the water, you don't want to be lifting your head up to breath, slide your chin to the side and take a sneaky breath into your armpit.
It's also good to learn how to breath every three strokes.

Answer 5

As you're swimming, you should be rolling from side to side (for full extension). Therefore, when you're breathing, you should roll on your side while your third arm is extending in front of you. Also, don't disregard breathing every three. Breathing every two will make your stroke uneven, causing you to snake from side to side in your lane. It can also cause shoulder damage if done over one's swimming career. I have ten years experience of swimming, and have qualified for multiple Division 1 events.

Answer 6

thats good already, i do that to. But i think the best thing to do is have a good moderation, dont hold ur breath cuz ur just wasitng energy keeping that ir in, but dont push it out all out ciz then you'l be tired, cause you didnt let ur lugs absorbs as much air as possible!
So the best thing to do, completely use ur air until u feel it's right to let go, but keep in mind that u want a full breath without breaking ur concentration.
what ur doing now is good!

Answer 7

depends on if you are sprinting or just a long swim, if you are sprinting you should breathe when you need it, that way your head is down as much as possible and you are more streamlined, hence you will go faster. if you are just swimming, you should do normal breathing, so yes you will exhale while your face is in the water.

Answer 8

It's depends on what you're comfortable with - I do the same thing. I hold my breath and when I turn to breath I start to exhale.

Answer 9

Well it is best to blow bubbles out through your nose while swimming and almost completely exale everything ... This is done during competive swimming so that when you tilt or come up for air you are forced to inhale and thereby you maximizing your time above water.

Answer 10

You should only exhale a little under water, if you fully exhale you will be more tired, and if you completely hold your breath you can drowned , so if you blow a little out you wont die before you take another breath.