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Freestyle - Catch-Up Catch

Posted by Glenn Mills on Dec 29, 2009 06:00AM (4,986 views)

Talk about a quick drill, here's one.  This drill can be done during a kick set, or as a stand-alone drill.

Why Do It:
This little drill will allow you time to focus on an early catch and high elbow without making you think too much.  There is really only ONE focal point to this drill.

How to Do It:
1. 
 Start by kicking flutter kick in the face-down position.  Put both hands out in front, and interlock the thumbs.  Not in perfect streamline, but the arms aren't crazy apart either.
2.  Take a stroke with one arm, return it back to center, wait a bit, and then take a stroke with the other arm.  Put some kicks between the strokes so you can focus on the "fine point."
3.  The trick to this drill is that when you take the stroke, you try to maintain a connection between your elbow and the surface of the water.  It's not that easy, so close counts, too.

How to Do It Really Well (the Fine Points):
Didn't we just cover that in step 3 above?  If you really want to focus on it, put on a Finis Center Mount Snorkel so you can spend more time thinking about what you're doing, or put on some fins to keep you moving.




Responses

Responded Dec 30, 2009 07:27AM

Hello the friends, i can swim in the pool tomorrow thursday 1,5 hour for Catch-up Catch, i look at. How many meters? Difficult ? Easy?

Responded Dec 30, 2009 04:16PM

That's going to be based on how long it takes for you to really get the feeling of it. I'd alternate a length of this drill, with a length of swimming, focusing on the catch. Give that a try as part of your practice.

Responded Dec 31, 2009 12:32PM

Ok, i will go to the pool today. i will swim. i inform later.

Thanks Glenn,

Responded Jan 05, 2010 06:38PM

Oh well...this drill might be simple and easy, BUT it is a very important one.

Responded Jan 06, 2010 11:51AM

ok!

Responded Jan 13, 2010 04:00AM

I know that this has been discussed elsewhere, but I'm still kind of confused. In this drill we are initiating our catch from a flat position. How does it help us catch while rotating?

Responded Jan 13, 2010 01:59PM

No problem Tarik. The idea is that this drill gives you a "reference" point, a "target" for your elbow. Don't think of this as a full freestyle drill, but just that first little part of the pull. If you look at the line through the shoulders to the elbow, even when flat, that's basically the line you'd like to maintain with the body rotated.

It's tough to have an imaginary target for a high elbow when rotated, so by initiating this by staying flat, and then adding the rotation, you should get a bit better feeling with the high elbow.

Hope that makes sense.

Responded Jan 13, 2010 09:23PM

Yes, it does make sense, Glenn. Thanks.


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