How to swim with a High Elbow Catch/EVF - Total Immersion Israel

[thegodphreaker]

Sorry, but how do you rotate a bone? That doesn't make sense.

[ejenky]

dope tunes

[fmamand]

or you can show your underarm hair to the world, before you enter your hand!

[losangelesrep]

Very nice and detailed. This was great!

[TheLeilisa]

swimming would help you grow taller ?

[TotalImmersionIsrael]

obviously hacket and thorpe are doing the right thing....Coach Gadi should and will practice more :-)

[Jerry1SKI]

Great video and graphics. It finally answered some questions for me about timing the beginning of the catch in relationship to the recovery (extension) of the other arm. Thank you, thank you

[madhvi15]

the bone is humerus.. not humerous.. the funny bone is another one !!!

[Pluzic]

hello. my name is eugene and i spend my days trying to hack google... but on my spare time i swim because it relaxes me after my mom beats me.

[hayleydisca]

thanks for your analysis

[4444ty4444hole]

great vid

can you suggest any stretches to help get into this position?

[brooka70]

Great Vid. You talk about 'Over the barrel' and that some swimmers have difficulties doing this as they don't rotate their humerous bone...is internal rotation of the humerous bad for the shoulder joint? Just asking because when I do this internal rotation for the catch I feel like the shoulder joint is being put under a lot of pressure (I'm a beginner swimmer btw).

[TotalImmersionIsrael]

@brooka70 Thank you! If you are a beginner our recomendation is not to practice EVF - this is the last thing you should do for polishing your stroke!

The internal rotation shouldn't cause any pain or discomfort - on the contrary. You're probably doing something not right. Pain and pressure are signs for improper technique...

Cheers

[J0rgan]

I'd echo the positive comments of the others; great video addressing an essential part of stroke mechanics.

What's the background music? I really like it.

[TotalImmersionIsrael]

@J0rgan Thanks!

The music is from a band names Circulation from their album Colours...

[onefatfrog2]

I never realized that I did this, but this is exactly the way I swim. I learned this technique from a coach who gave me the simplest explanation: pretend you are wrapping your arm around a barrel out in front of you. Nice vid.

[TotalImmersionIsrael]

Thanks! Over the barrel is the most common focal point. Some swimmers have difficulties doing this as they don't rotate the humerous bone...

[BWpepperr]

Hi,

Can you explain the rotation of the humorous bone?I didnt' understand the frame displayed just before michael phelps cut in.

[TotalImmersionIsrael]

Hi,

Rotate the bone so the "eye" of the elbow is facing towards the side wall of the pool before stroking.

Good luck!

[BWpepperr]

Oh,Thank you. I already did that naturally. Preciate the clarification

[skatedude063094]

is this style faster than the front crawl catch

[TotalImmersionIsrael]

It's a catch that best middle and long distance freestyleres use. The short distance (mainly 50 and 100) use a more powerful straight arm catch. Therefore, fast is a relative term depends on your goals - if you want to race fast for a short distance - don't bother practicing it...

[HabloIrlandes]

Excellent vid and explaination of "High Elbow Catch", I'm training for my first Sprint triathlon and really need to work on my swimming, this whole high elbow concept is new to me but you've explained it beautifully. I cant wait to get into the pool tomorrow and work on it!

[TotalImmersionIsrael]

No: the "eye" of the elbow is the external part (placing your elbow on a table). You have to rotate the eye so it will face the side wall. When you do that, you're able to reach a vertical position of the forearm (try it on land). Hope now it's clearer.

Thanks for posting...

[echonnoun]

Thank you very much for your reply. Best.

[lexsoft]

I found difficulty in doing arm recovery, esp when doing what you called "rotating the eye". I tried in the land, I felt the sound coming from the bone of my elbow; I realized then I didn't do it in the correct way. But, I hope your video will help me do the correct one.

[TotalImmersionIsrael]

@lexsoft - please make sure you understand - the rotation of the bone is right before the pull not the recovery!

[lexsoft]

I understand now this video is all about the catch. So, actually I can do the catch, although my elbow position sometimes is not really vertical, rather looks like Grant's Hacket style. But, once again as I already I mentioned I was not satisfied with my arm recovery (from the exit phase to the entry phase). I have watched from several videos, but doing it myself was not as easy as displayed. Which has the important role in doing this : shoulder, elbow or the (fore) arm ?

[TotalImmersionIsrael]

@lexsoft the elbow is leading the recovery. the part of you arm (everything below the elbow) should feel loose and relaxed (marionette arms). the elbow should lead before the palm. please look for another video called fingertips drag and zen switch - this will help you practice an effective recovery!

[lexsoft]

Thank you very much for your explanation.

[echonnoun]

Thanks for the clear, extremely helpful video!

Let me see if I got the humerus rotation right. The inner part of the elbow (that's the eye, isn't it?) must face the side wall squarely. When I do that I find my relaxed hand (with arm outstretched in front of me) faces directly down, not in or out. Is that correct? I do feel that position makes flexing the arm into a HE position easier.

Keep up the good work!

[drktgrrrl]

I have been drilling the TI way for the past two months, and until I saw this, nothing felt balanced. Somehow EVF fixed everything and it just clicked at the pool today. Many thanks for all of the videos!

[TotalImmersionIsrael]

Welcome! Thank you for your comment!

[trisonico]

You need a lot of flexibility shoulder for mantain high elbow, turned humerus and body width alined, all at the time. Don't think?.

[TotalImmersionIsrael]

Not necessarily! The key is to rotate the humerous, swim on "wide tracks" and stroke while the body and shoulders are relatively flat. If you'll do that - you'll be able to swim with HEC/EVF.

Good luck!

[jslovers]

@TotalImmersionIsrael " and stroke while the body and shoulders are relatively flat..." I don't quite understand this. Shouldn't we rotate out body to make it streamline as well? And what is the proper rotate and not over rotate? Thanks in advance!

[aeroflying]

Israelies are brilliant

[TotalImmersionIsrael]

Thanks! We try :-)

[TimeToMosh]

Thanks Guys!!!!

My coach has been going on about EVF to me for weeks but i didn't really get what he was meaning but i'm sure i understand now!! :D

[TotalImmersionIsrael]

Thanks you for adding this comment!

[outfield66]

Hey guys at TI, thanks for the reply! I think i get it. Anyways just love the TI philosophy!

[nadador1515]

Also, like your forearm. You still have to mantain an inward sweep right?Im having problems with that. Thank you=)

[TotalImmersionIsrael]

There's an inward sweep but it's not a crucial element to follow. Please study the animated site (link specified in the clip) at slow motion

[outfield66]

My question is- TI says arms should stretch (V-line) slightly outside of the shoulder line. Then when you roll to that side of the shoulder you're supposed to have everything aligned from hand to toe. How will I a line everything if my hand/ arm position is away or outside my shoulder line or stream line. Or is this alignment meant for the side view.

More power to TI I"ve learned to much on floating and being able to choose from doing nothing to doing something,

[TotalImmersionIsrael]

You should stretch on the shoulder line not slightly outside. The confusion is that the shoulder line should be measured when you're flat lying on the deck/floor...

[outfield66]

I have the FME book/text and video (2003) which illustrates the fish drill. I also have the easy freestyle text (2006), which mentions the "just enough to clear the shoulder" rotation and the "stacked shoulder" position? Isn't the fish drill the stacked shoulder position? Hoping you could clear this up for me, By the way im a sinker and was resigned to the fact that I had to keep kicking to keep my legs from sinking. TI taught me balancing. No longer doomed to just keep kicking. THANK YOU!!

[TotalImmersionIsrael]

In order to prevent over rotation, TI is no longer using the fish drill. you should roll "just enough to clear the surface".

Good luck and thanks!

[outfield66]

Thanks for the reply. When I emailed you I actually did not try the fish drill yet. When I did try it, I felt "stacked" when my was head facing the side wall of the pool. When rotated my head and I faced the bottom of the pool, I guess my shoulder and body rotated slightly so I actually did not feel "stacked". I guess my skating position is steeply more angled that just clearing the surface of the water. Is this still ok?

Many thanks and regards

[TotalImmersionIsrael]

No, TI changed the angle of the rotation as students over rotated while swimming whole stroke. The main idea of drilling Skate positio is to imprint the body position and enulate it while swimming whole stroke. Therefore, try not to over rotate in Skating - just that your shoulder will clear the surface... Good luck!

[outfield66]

I believe I get what you mean. Also why waste all those extra movements. Thanks

[nadador1515]

Umm i have a question...The rotation of the humerous bone, Like is it just that or also your shoulders?

[TotalImmersionIsrael]

Sorry for the late reply... The humorous bone is the bone connecting the shoulder to the elbow so the rotation is practically "inside" the shoulder socket of the shoulder. Learn more here:

[TotalImmersionIsrael]

Search google for the Swimming fastest By Ernest W. Maglischo book. They have free excerpts of this book (page 81)

[nadador1515]

I see...But about the humorous thing...Is it like balancing your body in that side?

No prob about the late reply and thanks alot...I read the excerpts on the book=)

Many thanks

[TotalImmersionIsrael]

Regarding the rotation of the humorous - just rotate the "eye" of the elbow so before the stroke it will face the side wall and not the bottom of the pool. The book explains this better and the video shows how every top class swimmer is doing this...

[nadador1515]

Hmm allright ill try that=) Thanks...

Now i have one final doubt=P

You see i breathe every other stroke( to my right side), and i feel as if my right arm doing a perfect evf my that my left(because i cant see it), is just going straight down. Is that like normal...or what?=P

Thanks

[TotalImmersionIsrael]

First - learn to breath on both sides!

Second - this is normal: there are differences between hands (dominant/non-dominant). You should practice this in very slow speeds like TI Coach Gadi is doing at the end of the clip... Good luck!

[nadador1515]

Haha excellent thank you=)

I am very grateful for all these tips( and the video) you have provided for me. Dropping time like crazy.=P Thanks alot and i hope we can talk again soon=)

[outfield66]

y question is- TI says arms should stretch (V-line) slightly outside of the shoulder line. Then when you roll to that side of the shoulder you're supposed to have everything aligned from hand to toe. How will I a line everything if my hand/ arm position is away or outside my shoulder line or stream line. Or is this alignment meant for the side view.

More power to TI I"ve learned so much on floating and being able to choose from doing nothing to doing something,

[swims4zbs]

thank you for this video. Best instructional swim video I've found on youtube. Coming from a student coach, I feel this is perfect to show to some of our swimmers who drop their elbows before their catch. Again, thank you and keep up the good work.

[jungweizer]

hey michael phelps has a slight "S" pull with his left arm... he catches with a slight outward sweep then immediately positions his hand inward.

[jslovers]

What is the right head position? Books said the eyes should be looking at the bottom of the pool (head down) But I noticed that the clip here show Ian's eyes actually look straight to the wall (head up).  Which one is correct?

Thanks!

[TotalImmersionIsrael]

The right head position is looking down in order to be as balanced as possible i.e. legs don't sink. Ian actually wants his legs to sink as his kick is very powerful and he has natural fins (size 57!!!)

[jslovers]

Thank you for your quick reply! I tried both head positions and did feel when my head looked down, I felt less resistance.

My 2nd question is hand/arm movements. Some books say they should be like drawing an "S" under water. Is that right? Because I didn't see them doing that in the clip. (or they did it too fast?)

Thanks!

[TotalImmersionIsrael]

The main benefit from the head position is to keep your spine alined and prevent your legs from sinking. Less resistance is a bunus.

The S stroke is long gone - this is why you don't see anyone of these great swimmers pulling in an S pattern...

You're welcome!

[folala98]

Well done and thank you Total Immersion Israel. This has been a huge help and I am glad that someone in TI has taken it on and demonstrate it to us all. Am also very happy that it was in English and not Hebrew.

[TotalImmersionIsrael]

You're welcome! We'll continue to upload clips in English!

[eccchung]

good analogy with fluid mechanics! a very logical analysis.