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All Strokes - Blowing Bubble Rings

Posted by Glenn Mills on Mar 03, 2009 08:02AM (8,868 views)

A couple weeks ago, I was playing around with my camera in the diving well, and blew out a couple bubble rings.  I posted the short clip on Facebook only to be asked a few times... "How did you do that?"  Since I'm on the road this week, I figured we could all use a little break, and I'd have some real masters demonstrate.


Add to Cart View Cart - Use your great breath control for better breaststroke underwater pulls!


Why Do It:
When you spend as many hours in the pool as most high-level competitive swimmers do... you learn to interact with water in many ways.

How to Do It:
We'll try to show a couple different methods for blowing bubble rings.
1.  The most important part of blowing bubble rings is to have still water.  A good idea is to descend to the bottom and then move forward a bit out of the turbulence you just created.
You're going to have to direct all your air through your mouth, so nothing can come out of your nose... here are a couple ways to accomplish that.
2.  Some swimmers need to pinch their nostrils together so no air comes out.
3.  Other swimmers are able to pretty much shut off their noses, so they can just lie back and make the bubbles.
4.  Relax for a few seconds, making sure the water has calmed.
5.  Purse your lips, and build up a breath of air just behind your lips.
6.  With a quick PUFF, blow, or POP out that air in one quick shot.
7.  If done correctly... you'll see a nice bubble ring.  If not... try again.

How to Do It Really Well (the Fine Points):
There are different ways to block the air.  You can purse your lips as stated above, or... you can use your tongue to block the release of air.

When you really want to play, you can start having target practice.  Try to land the bubble ring around a pole or pair of goggles sitting at the top.  If nothing else, blowing bubble ringsl will help you work on breath control.




Responses

Responded Mar 03, 2009 02:03PM

YAY! Awesome!!! Thanks Glenn!
I think I am staying longer in the pool tonight... for bubble rings :D

Responded Mar 03, 2009 02:30PM

What fun! We will be playing tonight. Thanks

Responded Mar 03, 2009 02:53PM

:-)) I was doing this when I was little!! Thanks for reminding me!! How hilarious those moments were, when we were allowed to play after practice!! :-)))

I have to do them again!...and some "dolphin jumps" too.. :-))) Saturday will be fine for these as we train early in the morning so there is no free pool-time on weekdays after practice.

Responded Mar 03, 2009 05:36PM

I've waited for this forever... I am now complete.

Responded Mar 03, 2009 07:20PM

Haha! Nice!

Responded Mar 04, 2009 06:55AM

I managed yesterday a bubble disc haha

Responded Mar 04, 2009 07:14AM

Not bad this one ... we also like to get the bean around to spice up the warm down.

Responded Mar 04, 2009 11:48AM

The ring is created when the bubble is decelerated by the stagnant water. The water spreads the upper surface of the bubble outward which curves around and down into the bubble initiating a vortex and splits it into a ring. The rolling expansion of the ring is characteristic of a vortex. And who says that science doesn’t matter (Question of the Week)!

Responded Mar 04, 2009 11:57AM

Nice! It would explain why I could create only a disc and not a ring- my bubble didn't have enough speed. I love science! :)

Responded Mar 04, 2009 12:01PM

Actually, it's not that the bubble decelerates, it's the drag force of the water acting on the surface of the bubble that spreads it outward. (It's still early for me to think!)

Edited Mar 04, 2009 02:42PM
Responded Mar 04, 2009 03:05PM

OK, but the more speed the more drag isn't it? If you send the bubble off not quick enough it won't be able to break. My bubble hadn't learnt yet how to handle this, cannot hold on to the basic technique and loses speed to quickly a.k.a. the water pushes the entire bubble down instead of breaking the middle. It is still an age-grouper bubble. I'll add a couple of work outs to its current practice and tell it to do a bit more that I am asking. Then it can become an elite bubble :D

Responded Mar 05, 2009 02:23PM

Glenn Mills --- you crack me up! This is fantastic.....love the video!

Responded Mar 15, 2009 10:23PM

Hey this is awesome. I'II try it tomorrow!!! Adorable!!!

Responded Jul 16, 2009 11:59PM

Fun Fun Fun! This is awesome!


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