How can I swim faster?

Question

I know that I am stronger than my friend and that I am bigger than him. I also have great technique and we do the same exact workout. Why is he faster?
Should i lift weights? what should i do to improve my speed in such events:
50/100/200/500 free
100 fly
100 back
100 breast
200IM
-i usually swim these, but mainly 100 fly and 100 free
any suggestions?

plus im 5'10' and he's 5'11' and we're both around 160 lbs

Answer 1

Despite all of the anecdotal answers given, after 30 years of coaching, speed comes down to several things ...
FIRST: Stroke mechanics/technique and
SECOND: Training hard with proper technique.

No matter how good you think your technique is, the odds are it is not perfect. Count your strokes on each length and find out how far you go with each stroke. Only then will working hard enough to make those changes so permanent that you can do them in a race make a difference. You MUST get input from the keen eye of a coach to make those changes as you are, like all swimmers (more so in swimming than any other sport) incapable of good self-analysis.

But, #2 (training hard) will do you no good whatsoever if you don't have proper stroke mechanics.

Now ... #3 ... Weights. Lifting is also very important as long as you do it properly. There are numerous studies regarding a phenomena called "specificity of motion". In those studies, it has been shown that to get strong for swimming, you must lift weights in the motions of swimming (or just plug in any sport in the place of swimming).

Swimmers must have strong triceps. However, doing push-ups to develop your triceps only makes you strong for doing push-ups. So, you must find weight machines that have cables and pulleys so that you can lift weights while duplicating your stroke. Again, you need a coach to be watching your technique.

AND 4th: What type of person are you genetically ... are you a sprinter or a middle distance athlete or a distance athlete? Depending on what type of athlete you are, you need to train to develop what you are. If you are a sprinter and you train for distance, you'll not improve your sprinting and you'll never be a distance swimmer. To become a good sprinter (or distance swimmer), you must train specifically for those races.

Your coach can give you a simple vertical jump test that will indicate your genetics. Great sprinters frequently have a vertical jump of 30+ inches (75+ cm). Great distance swimmers have vertical jumps of only 10 or 12 inches (25 - 30 cm). Most of us are in between. So, if you have a vertical leap that approaches one height or the other, you should train more for those types of events.

Good luck!

Answer 2

ok the first thing i would suggest is to do strengthening to your arms and upper body. The more powerful your stroke is the faster you will go. I would suggest to keep your stroke long and focus on extending your arm to the fullest extent before you start your pull. When you pull, remember that its not how many pulls you do, but how powerfull each stroke is. When you first start out you will pull more, but with practise you should be getting stronger and therefore you will be able to pull less but also go faster. At the end of your pull you should excellorate your arms so that it is the fastest and strongest part of your pull. I would also suggest streamlining when you push off the wall. Streamlining is where you kick off the wall hard and hold your hands in front of your head (while you are still under water) and do flutter kick untill you start floating up and then start your pull. When you breathe, i would say to breathe every two strokes so that you are breathing on opposite sides. If you do this you have less of a chance of damaging your back and your rotaters cuffs in your arms. Also always kick even when you get tied because it helps you get a faster time.

Answer 3

Swimming is a very technical sport, along with stroke technique one must keep a good breathing pattern and be efficient in the water. When i say be efficient you should concentrate on going as fast as possible without using or wasting too much energy. You mainly swim short distances so you are a sprinter, in these races one must have good starts and especially the odd stroke( fly,back, breast) an excellent turn. I once had the opportunity to swim with an Olympian and the biggest difference that i saw between him and any other swimmer was his amazing turn and kick.

Answer 4

I'm in the exact same situation as you right now. I'm a distance freestyler and many of my friends are getting TOO much faster than I am in other events. Most of the time, these things can be mental blocks. If you really want to do it, there are things that you can do outside of the pool such as changing your eating habits, getting more rest and recovery time so that you can train harder, stretching every day etc.

Answer 5

You have to be really smooth in the water. Try to make as little splash as possible other wise it creates drag. Also work out your upper body. Lifting weights or swimming with JUST your arms.
Good luck!

Answer 6

When I was in this situation, I lifted weights and did crazy dry land stuff. I also changed my eating habits. I just keep working hard in practice even if I get sick to my stomach. It's the best thing to do even if you didn't have competition.

Answer 7

when you swim swim as fast as yoyu can for the wohle time so you can build your selve up and also do alot of dry land stuff

Answer 8

maybe he is just natrually faster at those strokes i don't think it has to do w/ size or wieght lifting sorry

Answer 9

Maybe because he's taller. Or you might not have the best technique.

Answer 10

Has you friend been swimming longer than you have?