The Top 5 Swimming Drills to Improve Your Speed

Introduction

Whether you’re a competitive swimmer or someone looking to improve your overall swimming performance, increasing speed is often a key goal. Speed in swimming comes down to refining technique, boosting strength, and improving efficiency in the water. To help you get faster, here are the top 5 swimming drills designed to sharpen your skills and enhance your speed.

1. High-Elbow Catch Drill

  • Purpose: The high-elbow catch is essential for maximizing propulsion in the water by increasing the power phase of your stroke.
  • How It Works:
    • Swim freestyle while focusing on keeping your elbow high during the underwater pull.
    • After your hand enters the water, drop your fingertips while keeping your elbow close to the surface.
    • Engage your forearm and hand to “catch” more water and pull it back toward your body.
  • Benefits: This drill improves your stroke technique, allowing you to move more water with each stroke, which increases your speed.
  • Tip: Perform this drill slowly at first to focus on technique, then gradually increase speed as you become comfortable.

2. Sprint Interval Training

  • Purpose: Interval training builds endurance and speed by incorporating short bursts of fast swimming followed by rest or slower swimming.
  • How It Works:
    • Swim 25 or 50 meters at maximum effort, then rest for 30 seconds or swim at a relaxed pace for 25 meters.
    • Repeat for 6-10 intervals, focusing on maintaining speed and form.
  • Benefits: Interval training enhances your anaerobic capacity, helping you swim faster for longer periods.
  • Tip: Start with shorter sprints and increase distance as your endurance improves.

3. Kickboard Drill

  • Purpose: Strengthening your kick is critical for faster swimming, as a powerful leg drive adds speed and stability.
  • How It Works:
    • Use a kickboard and focus solely on your kicking technique while keeping your upper body still.
    • Keep your legs straight but flexible, generating power from your hips with quick, small flutter kicks.
  • Benefits: This drill isolates your lower body, building leg strength and improving overall propulsion in the water.
  • Tip: Incorporate both short, fast kicks and longer, more sustained kicks to target different muscle groups.

4. Catch-Up Drill

  • Purpose: The catch-up drill helps swimmers maintain proper body alignment and streamline while improving stroke coordination.
  • How It Works:
    • Swim freestyle, but instead of pulling with alternating arms, wait for one arm to “catch up” with the other before initiating the next stroke.
    • Keep one arm extended in front while the other completes the underwater pull.
  • Benefits: This drill promotes smooth, efficient strokes and teaches you to glide through the water with minimal resistance, leading to faster swimming.
  • Tip: Focus on maintaining a streamlined body position and avoid overextending or pausing too long between strokes.

5. Bilateral Breathing Drill

  • Purpose: Breathing on both sides (bilateral breathing) balances your stroke, improving your overall efficiency and speed in the water.
  • How It Works:
    • Swim freestyle and practice breathing every three strokes to alternate between your left and right sides.
    • Focus on exhaling fully underwater and rotating your body smoothly to breathe without disrupting your stroke.
  • Benefits: This drill balances your stroke, reduces drag, and helps you maintain speed without losing rhythm.
  • Tip: Start by practicing bilateral breathing over shorter distances, then gradually increase as you become more comfortable.

Conclusion

Incorporating these swimming drills into your regular training routine will help you fine-tune your technique, build strength, and improve speed in the water. Remember, consistency is key, so practice these drills regularly and track your progress. By focusing on both technique and endurance, you’ll see significant improvements in your swimming speed in no time.

FAQs Section

  1. How often should I do these swimming drills?
    • Aim to incorporate these drills into your swim practice at least two to three times per week.
  2. Which stroke benefits most from these drills?
    • While these drills primarily target freestyle, they can also improve overall technique and speed for all strokes.
  3. How long will it take to see improvements in speed?
    • Results vary, but with regular practice, you may start noticing improvements in speed within a few weeks.
  4. Should I focus on all the drills or just one at a time?
    • Start with one or two drills per session, gradually incorporating more as your technique and endurance improve.
  5. Can beginners benefit from these drills?
    • Yes, swimmers of all levels can benefit from these drills, but beginners should focus on mastering technique before emphasizing speed.
Slava Fattakhov

Slava Fattakhov

Former Professional Swimmer / Professional Swimming Coach

I enjoy every opportunity I get to coach, whether it is a national level university swimming team or a kid who just started exploring one of the greatest sports - swimming.

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