When you swim the crawl, do you breathe facing your left, or your right?

Question

Why do you breathe on that side? (Other than the smart-alecky answers, of course!)

I always breathe to the left side because my head turns several degrees further to the left, so I get a better, easier breath on that side!

Answer 1

you breathe on the side most comfortable to you, but its fastest to bilateral breathe which is right side, left side,...

Answer 2

It is whatever side you feel comfortable, so there is no correct side.

A Crawl

The crawl is the fastest and most efficient swimming technique. It is also called the freestyle, because swimmers use it in freestyle events, which allow the use of any stroke.

To swim the crawl, a swimmer travels through the water with the chest and head pointing downward toward the bottom. The legs move in a flutterkick, moving up and down quickly and continually. Each arm stroke begins as the right arm is brought in front and slightly to the right of the swimmer’s head and into the water. When the right hand enters the water, the right elbow should be above the surface of the water and the body should be tilted slightly to the left side. At the same time, the left arm accelerates underneath the water in a pulling motion down the length of the body.

After the right arm enters the water, the body naturally rolls to the right so that the body is horizontal to the water surface. The left arm continues through the stroke at the swimmer’s side. The swimmer continues to extend the right arm forward, and the body begins to roll onto its right side.

As the right arm begins to pull the swimmer forward, it increases the body’s tilt to the right side, and the left arm exits the water near the swimmer’s hip.

The swimmer then brings the left arm forward to enter the water while the right arm travels down the swimmer’s side. As the left arm enters the water and the right arm exits, the swimmer’s body begins to turn to the left side again, and the swimmer begins the stroke sequence once more.

In the crawl, turning the head to breathe is a simple, easy motion that should be coordinated with the body roll. As the body tilts completely to the right or left side, the swimmer should roll the head to the same side and take a breath. After inhaling, the swimmer puts his or her face back in the water, looking toward the bottom of the pool. The swimmer exhales slowly through the nose or mouth as the body rolls toward the other side.

Answer 3

It might be easier to breathe on your left hand side but in swimming the trained way is to breathe on both sides. This would involve 3 strokes and breathe on one side, 3 kicks and breathe on the other side. This allows for optimum speed and will prevent the one side of the body from becoming fatigued

Answer 4

Had to think about this one? I can only deduce that even though I'm right handed, I start with my left arm, swim 5 strokes then breathe to the Right with my left arm in front, as that's when i need to breathe on my fifth stroke?
Don't know if there is any scientific or physiological answer, just my opinion. Hope this helps a little x

Answer 5

If you swim correctly, you take three strokes between breaths. So, you breathe on the opposite side each time you take a breath. I try to do this. But, I'm not a very good swimmer.

Answer 6

I'm RIGHT handed, and do my breathing to my LEFT. Differnt people do it differently I'm sure. It really doesn't matter. You just have to swim enough to figure out what "rhythm" is right for you, and do it. It took me swimming like 1/4 mile a day for 2 months to figure out, and do, 2 strokes per breath, at the pace I went for that length of a swim.

Answer 7

Its kinda weird and wonderful which you discovered breastroke and backstroke earlier freestyle, yet oh properly With inhaling freestyle, you would be able to desire to maintain a persevering with pace along with your palms the two once you're respiratory and once you're no longer. attempt to no longer breathe each stroke, wait 2 or 3. while your elbow first comes out of the water in the back of you, turn your head to the section and take a breath. Dont carry your head, in basic terms tilt it. Your head would desire to be back off by potential of the time that comparable arm's hand enters the water. Then do it back in some strokes. bear in mind, prepare makes suited :)

Answer 8

the crawl, or better known as freestyle, can be swam either breathing to the right or the left, or with alternating breathing. i am not a proficient swimmer so i breathe to my strong side, the right. also, i breathe to my right because i have more opportunities to breathe since my lungs are not conditioned to holding air efficiently while swimming.

Answer 9

I breathe to the left side.

Answer 10

if you are a masters swimmer or swim for a club, then you do three strokes one with your left then one with your right and so forth, and then breathe to your left , same strokes again then breathe to your right, this shoukd help you, if cannot do this then two strokes and breath to the side which suits you , hope this helps, from a masters swimmer.x.

Answer 11

when you are doing front crawl you should try to alternate you breathing. take three strokes breathe to your right then take three strokes and breath to your left. this is called bilateral breathing. the reason behind it i am not quite sure.. i just find it easier to alternate then breathe on the same side..