The best way to improve your swimming is to master the drills and practice them regularly. They are part of nearly every workout we create so you most certainly see them. Many of the workouts just say something like “4 x 50 as 25 Drill/25 Free”. This means the first 25m is the drill specified (or choice of drill if not specified), then the next 25 is normal freestyle. Initially, your coach will identify drills that you should be working on. As you develop, you will choose your own drills or you can ask your coach what to work on.
Drill Videos – Below is a list of videos to the drills I most often prescribe. You should not try to do all of the drills every time. Focus on one or two drills and really focus on the intent of that drill so you can implement that intent when you start your swim workout.
Catch Up Drill – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I0jai6G7Aag&t=22s
Finger Tip Drill or Zipper Drill – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RPDK4s6HLfQ
Bow and Arrow Drill – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1UI9H2JEoo0
Single-Arm Swim Drill (with or without fins) – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vr_8iT3elgI&t=96s
Switch Kick (6/1/6 & 6/3/6) – Use 1 or 3 strokes between kicks as determined by the coach – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HeyaqhxCZFg
Kick Drill – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vjfi1erK5dQ
KOS (Kick On Side) – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RRJmTzBZ7u8
Fist Drill (with or without tennis balls) – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2-Cuujx_Ma0
Tarzan Drill – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A7SR-M-aLVM
Alligator Sighting Drill – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KlDG1RE_-Rk
Sculling – we focus mostly on front to mid sculling but this video covers a few positions that are great to learn as you improve your swimming – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MD4Iya-0dVI
DPS (Distance Per Stroke)