swim analysis in Gauteng?

[Henley 1]

where in Gauteng (preferably in the South) can I have a video analysis done of my (terrible!) swimming, followed by pointers for technique improvement? 

[MrJacques]

Check out http://www.swimsmooth.com They have an app you can download as well showing technique.

[Rick Sanchez]

The HPC at Tuks will do this for free as far as I know. Google them and give them a call.

http://web.up.ac.za/default.asp?ipkCategoryID=1795

[eddy]

There is an underemployed swim coach in Cape Town who could whip you into shape.........

[Henley 1]

If it cannot be done under water as well, I think could settle for doing it myself with a friend from above in the gym pool and we can then analyse ourselves. You don't need to be e genius to know how to swim. (Of course the swimming itself is another story all together!)

will call HPC thanx

[MrJacques]

A GoPro in a waterproof housing can do the trick. Put it on a stick and have your friend record your swimming.

[Dinamic]

If it cannot be done under water as well, I think could settle for doing it myself with a friend from above in the gym pool and we can then analyse ourselves. You don't need to be e genius to know how to swim. (Of course the swimming itself is another story all together!)

will call HPC thanx

You would be astounded at the number of people who when seeing themselves swimming above and underwater remain clueless at to how to correct.  They confuse symptoms with causes and don't consider the impact of how one aspect of their stroke can effect the other.  So not as simple as you may think.

[Henley 1]

I appreciate what you say Dinamic, but us plebs go from coach to coach and the homework varies between drills - sometimes drills for the sake of drills. surely knowing what is wrong in the stroke (and distinguishing between symptoms and causes) one should rather focus on short-comings in the stroke than be doing endless drills?

[Dinamic]

I appreciate what you say Dinamic, but us plebs go from coach to coach and the homework varies between drills - sometimes drills for the sake of drills. surely knowing what is wrong in the stroke (and distinguishing between symptoms and causes) one should rather focus on short-comings in the stroke than be doing endless drills?

Henley you are spot on.  Drills for the sake of drills are pointless.  A drill is there to address a specific issue eg 6/1/6 rotation drill is to improve the swimmers rotation and avoid swimming flat.  This in turn will improve the recovery and reduce likelihood of amongst other things cross over, see what I mean by cause and symptoms.

 

Another classic example is when people see themselves with legs low in the water they often believe this is a flaw in their kick, when the reality is that it is more likely to be caused by their stroke, ( again symptom being confused with cause). 

 

Swim analysis should allow the swimmer to 1) see the differences between correct stroke/body position and their own.  2) reflect on what causes these differences 3) explain what needs to be done differently to minimize the differences 4) practice appropriate drills ( sometimes dry land) to reinforce correct behavior. 

 

The important thing here is if the athlete understands why they are doing the drill ( and all too often they don't ) they are more likely to do it, to do it with concentration and an understanding of what they are trying to achieve and gain success from doing it.

 

I know, easier said than done.

 

very cool profile image by the way, bull mastiff?

[IceCreamMan]

Someone previously mentioned swim smooth... I would go to their website and purchase their e book off amazon...helped me a whole lot.

 

There is a lot of different information out there regarding swimming, I have chosen to follow the swim smooth school of thought an my swimming is now strong in relation to cycling and running.

 

Follow the book , self analysis can work and it's a good start. I have also found since reading the book is that the diagnosis and remedying of faults is almost intuitive and instinctive. You begin to realise what is slowing you down

[Dinamic]

Someone previously mentioned swim smooth... I would go to their website and purchase their e book off amazon...helped me a whole lot.

 

There is a lot of different information out there regarding swimming, I have chosen to follow the swim smooth school of thought an my swimming is now strong in relation to cycling and running.

 

Follow the book , self analysis can work and it's a good start. I have also found since reading the book is that the diagnosis and remedying of faults is almost intuitive and instinctive. You begin to realise what is slowing you down

I was fortunate enough to be selected to go on their first course for Coaches in 2011 at Loughborough in the UK, their approach just makes so much sense, I call it physics 101 of swimming as it is all cause and effect.  The Swim smooth blog each week is also very useful to sign up for.

[RockSpider85]

where in Gauteng (preferably in the South) can I have a video analysis done of my (terrible!) swimming, followed by pointers for technique improvement? 

 

PM me, then I can give you my sister's number.

She lives in Benoni and does the video/swimming analysis, also she was the only one from South Africa attending a swim smooth coaches course in England this year and have previously worked with a SA swimmer.

[Henley 1]

I am also copied on the Swim Smooth tips and spent some time on their site.

We happened to be visiting family in Perthfontein last Dec so I pre-arranged for one squad session with SS. Although I was just one of many in the water, Paul Newsome spent some time with me and gave me a few pointers. Of course I could not have expected a miracle from that, but it was nevertheless an experience for me to be swimming there with “the main manne what count”!

Yup! – one magnificent bullmastiff. He died at the age of 12 about 4 years ago – old picture