Interesting Freestyle Strokes: Hannah McKerchar

[MsCarpetShark]

@lgttb1 You'd both move a hell of a lot faster is you kicked. I don't care how long my swimmers have to go, they will kick the whole race through. Arm technique is corrected first, but if my swimmers legs aren't strong enough to kick, they'll work their asses off in order to learn how to. I race miles. My mile time is a little over 24 minutes; I'm a five foot tall woman. If I didn't kick, my time would suck. Are you questioning my experiance and training?

[MsCarpetShark]

I swim distance, and kicking is NOT a huge waste of energy. Believe me, if your legs aren't strong enough, you need to try harder. Kick, kick, kick.

[tucahinchilla]

fail

[elinfiernoentusojos]

Hi swimsmooth, i find your videos really interesting, i've been swiming for quite a while, but just 3 months ago i started to research techniques because i want to join a triathlon. I do kinda like the "s" technique, cause this fits really well and i feel comfortable, as i even seen some videos of phelps having a stroke like that, my question is, in order to improve efficency for a triathlon, do i need to develop more squared strokes??

[MsCarpetShark]

It's all about the kick if you ask me...

[lgttb1]

@MsCarpetShark unless you are very talented with your kick , kicking is a huge waste of energy. Hanna is only using a slow kick for balance. many swimmer would need to pack a lunch if they plan to hold a paddle board and only kick one lap in the pool.

[MsCarpetShark]

@lgttb1 I'm sorry, but as a coach and instructor, kicking is the MOST powerful part. It would be like a boat with no rudder... If she had a strong kick, she would glide through MUCH faster. Proven.

[lgttb1]

@MsCarpetShark if you plan to swim sprint distance it would be difficult to win without a very strong kick. if you reread my comment slowly and do not miss a word i wrote to you,perhaps you will understand my comment. i am now training with Michael Tschantz Hann who swam the English Channel in 11 hours and 19 minutes. We are swimming long distance all winter long in lake Michigan . He barely moves his feet and swims a 20 minute mile. I think i will stick with his technique.

[gooner0292]

I think her left arm isn't working well.

[ownedbystealth]

@jamesteddy22

Agreed, her stroke isn't quite competition style

[istar1000]

Hey guys!

What Camera rig do you use for this, its truly awesome! It would help my coaching feedback a lot! Thank you

[JamesTeddy22]

Im not sure if im correct or not, but I think her feet are terrible.. Im not expert and tell me if im wrong but aren't they supposed to be continous kicking ?

[okolnost]

@JamesTeddy22 no, not for long distance swimming or triathlons - in both you need to use your legs much less compared to short distances

[SoylentHolger]

Ahhhhh *bing* I just discovered my cardinal mistake while swimming freestyle stroke. I drop my leading arm while breathing in. Thanks. I learned swimming at kindergarden and school and did it wrong since then. Thanks for this video!

[foodisgooood]

She has a nice stroke, but she would be fast if she would just KICK!

[Mortybf]

@foodisgooood The kick is about 20% of your propulsion. Since she kicks a 2-beat kick, and that is 1/3 of a normal 6-beat kick, she would loose about 14% speed by not kicking a lot faster. Thats not very energy effecient and Hannah seems to be a long distance swimmer.

Kicking is mainly for keeping a good body position, reducing drag. Hannahs position is great, so there is no need for her to kick more.

[foodisgooood]

@Mortybf .... you just confused me. a LOT. hahhaa

however, i think kicking is critical for freestyle. In this video, the girl's legs are basically just waving around and not doing anything. if she actually kicked, she would be much faster. like A LOT faster.

[Mortybf]

@foodisgooood No, as I said, kicking is not really for propulsion! Kicking is making you faster by placing your body in a streamlined position. It also comsumes quite a bit of energy. Sure, if you sprint, you kick furiously. But that's because everything counts. The absolute majority of propulsion in freestyle comes from the arms. Just check the 1500 meter race in the Beijing olympics.

[foodisgooood]

@Mortybf Well i guess it varies with different people ^^

one of my friends relies mostly on kicking, while i know some people that swim like hannah. So I think if you develop your kick correctly, it can really help a lot. Personally, if I swim without kicking, I go much slower.

[Mortybf]

@foodisgooood It sure does! Thorpe, for example, with his really large feet, and Phelps with his very flexible ancle, gains more from the kick than a regular swimmer. But it drains more energy than your arms. So it depends on build, style and discipline.

[foodisgooood]

@Mortybf Haha true. I'm glad we compromised.

[cottonmouth213]

i have the same googles and the same color outside its color blue but when you wear them its actually yellow:D ive been swimming competitively for 4 years and this is a good technique

[latocona]

She doesn't stretch the arms far enough but i'm sure she'll perfect the technique

[vondenballs]

Nothing to say, this is a great video, thanks. One point I don't understand; when I swimm, I always take great care that my non working arm stays extended as far away as possible in front of me in order to increase my length. What about that?

[Mortybf]

@vondenballs Just dont overglide. The stroke is like biking, you should not pause anywhere. But yeah, you should stretch forward with your leading hand. 0:40 you can see Hannah doing it, even though she needs to keep a high stroke rate.

[jonisginger]

Well she'd definitely get it.

[Alfian001]

her strokes aren't smooth

[Xxnikki2k11xX]

omg that pool is LOVLY and fresh uugh wish our swimmin pool wuz like dat <3

[Mortybf]

@Theshofumiah1 Do some drills for finding your float. I thought I had good alignment but have always felt like you, that I need to kick quite some much. Did a few sessions of drills (found them on Total Immersion) and now I can swim with a 2-beat kick.

[Theshofumiah1]

@Mortybf sorry but what do you mean by drills?

[Mortybf]

@Theshofumiah1 Drills are specific movement practice. Google for "Freestyle Swimming Drills" or such!

[monkeymakr1]

shes barely kicking

[vendettavorever]

Thanks for posting this. Great video, very good explanation.

[Theshofumiah1]

@vendettavorever My arm strokes are fine, but my legs dont float up, i feel as I have to spalsh my legs constantly to keep going and stay afloat- hence i get tired and drained quickly within 2 laps. any advice please????!!!

[vendettavorever]

@Theshofumiah1 Personally I've just learned how to do strokes, it requests some condition and in the begining you're always very tired but then you quickly get used to it. About the legs I'd say that mostly you have to move your hips and less your knees and then when you catch the right timing it goes easy. Try to focus yourself on the movement of your hips and you'll see it will be much easier to do strokes.

[Theshofumiah1]

@vendettavorever thanks. i will practice 2mr, ask you anything else in the future. thanks

[Theshofumiah1]

@vendettavorever thanks for the advice!!!!!!!!!!!

[asl2g4u]

@HamoSoulmate she's an endurance swimmer (swam the 21K). The legs give you very little propulsion versus how much energy they take up (they thigh muscles are the largest muscles in the body). Hence = legs are only there to assist with rotation.

[doomkizar]

that video helped me alot

[poolrattie]

That was a very good video and i love the visual instructions! I t has taken me 10 months to finally get to stop bobbing and to be lower and breathe on the opposite side ( that took one lesson) ...I thought Hannah's stroke not perfect but is alot better than mine and I was an elite swimmer many years ago! The catch is where i have problems...and people are lucky if they have instruction nearby, I am in the sticks and have to learn from the you tube and kind strangers. Which takes so long...

[vondenballs]

Excellent approach to swimming matched to body type.

[HamoSoulmate]

World class, but she dont move legs , interestning )

[ReyAudentio]

@HamoSoulmate You only move your legs when you want speed. Shes distance, and legs take up alot of energy when you're swimming for not much payback speedwise, so if you're gonna swim for efficiency, you need to work on your stroke while your legs are there mainly for rotation and not as much kicking.

[Theshofumiah1]

@ReyAudentio My arm strokes are fine, but my legs dont float up, i feel as I have to spalsh my legs constantly to keep going and stay afloat- hence i get tired and drained quickly within 2 laps. any advice please????!!!

[ReyAudentio]

@Theshofumiah1 When I swim my freestyle, it's not entirely conscious, but I'm pretty sure my core does alot of work at keeping my logs in line with my body. Maybe you should incorporate core workouts into your schedule?

[Theshofumiah1]

@ReyAudentio what do you mean by core workouts?

[ReyAudentio]

@Theshofumiah1 Ab workouts.

[bitterclinger100]

@Theshofumiah1 Go to 2:40 on this video. That could be the answer.

[swimsmooth]

They're zogg predators... nice goggles!

[92Butler]

@swimsmooth Is she lefthanded? She seems stronger breathing to her left. ( better roll ) Thanks for all you guys do.

Pat

[stepe851]

what are those goggles? love `em

[TyL3R458]

@stepe851 zoggs predator if I'm not mistaken. 

[stepe851]

@TyL3R458 thanx

[MsBlueSkyBlue]

Thank you, Adam and Hannah ! One question: What was Hannah's Stroke Rate when this video was made? Thanks.

[TheLeilisa]

swimming would help you grow taller ?

[Dazzer]

Great video - thanks for sharing. I constantly visualise the Mr. Smooth's stroke and try to emulate whenever I am swimming. Sorry Mr. Smooth - but I now have better visualisation model. :-)

[swimsmooth]

Hi jtomono. Hannah had been swimming with us for about 6 months when we filmed her there. I guess you're wondering how long it takes to develop your stroke? Well, it depends a lot on how things click for you - sometimes it takes a few weeks, sometimes some months. What we would say is that if you're feeling like you're not improving and that lasts for more than a few weeks - then you probably need to try a different approach, drill or visualisation. It shouldn't take years, that's for sure!

[jtomono]

Great strokes as a non-elite swimmer!! I am very much encouraged!! Can I ask how long has she been training under Swimsmooth?

[bambinoH20]

Cheers Adam!!

You may not have made me a swimsuit model but I'm more happy being a swimming model.

Ta

[lono58]

To see footage like this of a non-professional/elite swimmer like Hannah is really encouraging because it helps me believe that I too can learn to swim better and inspires me to keep trying! Nice work. Thank you.

[MyHollydog]

Once again FANTASTIC work! You have no idea how helpful this and swim types has been!

[pjdeen]

Great video guys and superb quality!! Love the new kit