Developing a Feel for the Water

Developing a Feel for the Water

In this article, we’ll provide drills, hacks and tips for developing a feel for the water, to help achieve maximum propulsion.

What is a ‘feel for the water’?

A feel for the water is the ability of a swimmer to place their hands and arms in the correct position, with the optimum force to obtain maximum propulsion.

  • This is developed through the consistent and persistent application of a series of correct swimming techniques.

Guarding against slipping in the water

Many younger or less experienced swimmers tend to exert near maximum force to their strokes when attempting to swim at speed.

  • This can lead to the swimmer failing to place their hands in the correct position which could result in their ‘slipping’ in the water.
  • Which means they may not be catching the water correctly during the pulling phases of the strokes
  • To prevent ‘slipping’ in the water, swimmers should develop a feel for the water and the ability to anchor their hands in the correct position to achieve maximum hand and arm propulsion.

Developing a feel for the water is a key competitive swimming skill and therefore should be practised regularly in training.

Developing a feel for the water

Listed below are some of our favourite methods to help develop a swimmer’s feel for the water.

Swim Individual Medley

Individual medley swimming can help improve the swimmer’s feel for the water.

  • It requires the swimmer to position their hands and arms in a variety of different positions, whilst performing different strokes.

Related article on individual medley training

We have produced a related article, on individual medley training. Which you can view by clicking this link: Individual medley training.

Sculling drills

Developing a Feel for the Water

Sculling is often overlooked as a key swimming skill.

  • Efficient sculling skills can give the swimmer ‘a feel for the water’.
  • They can help them place their hands in the correct position.
  • This can help them to achieve maximum propulsion during the completion of the arm stroke.
  • Sculling is a great drill to introduce during a warm-up, cool-down or recovery swim.

Related article a guide to swimming sculling

We have produced a related article, a guide to swimming sculling. Which you can view by clicking this link: a guide to swimming sculling

Super slow swimming

Developing a Feel for the Water

Introduction: Super slow swimming is an excellent drill to improve stroke technique and a feel for the water, especially for younger or less experienced swimmers.

How to perform this drill: Quite simply, swimmers should swim as slowly as they can, and at the same time swim with the best technique they can.

Super slow swimming – with a stroke count

Introduction: This drill combines super slow swimming with a stroke count.

  • This drill helps to further develop a swimmer’s feel for the water but helping them focus on their stroke technique.

How to perform this progression:  For this drill the swimmers add stroke counting to their super slow swimming, to add extra focus to the length of their stroke.

Pull with pull buoy with fists

Developing a Feel for the Water

Introduction: An arm pulling drill which can develop the swimmer’s ‘feel for the water’ by the introduction of clenched fists.

 How to perform this progression: This drill can be conducted over repeat sets of 100m/200m.

  • Or, as I prefer, conducting a ‘pyramid’ in 100m steps i.e. 100m, 200m, 300m, 400m, 300m, 200m, 100m (steps of 50m for younger swimmers).
  • For this drill as well as a pull buoy, swimmers pull while clenching their fists.
  • This adds extra resistance to the arm pull and necessitates the swimmer pulling longer and harder and using their forearms as means of propulsion.
  • Ensure the swimmers have a high elbow on the recovery phase, to assist maximum stroke length.
  • Often once swimmers have completed this drill with fists, when they go back to normal pulling with unclenched fists, most swimmers develop a better feel for the water and therefore some swimmers pull more effectively.

Pull with fists and open hands

Developing a Feel for the Water

Introduction: Swimmers can further develop their ‘feel for the water’ by performing alternate clenched fist and open hand swimming.

How to perform this progression: For this progression, the swimmer can swim with or without a pull buoy.

  • Swimmers should swim six arm strokes with clenched fists and six strokes with a normal open hand.
  • Ensure the swimmers have a high elbow on the recovery phase, to assist maximum stroke length.

Swimming with hand and finger paddles

Swimming with hand and finger paddles is an established part of many swimming training programmes.

Performing alternate sets with and with hand or finger paddles can help the swimmer develop a feel for the water.

Related article on training with hand paddles

We have produced a related article on training with hand paddles. Which you can view by clicking this link: training with hand paddles.

Swimming equipment

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Some coaches encourage their swimmers to use some standard swimming equipment when developing their feel for the water such as,

A snorkel

Using a snorkel removes the need for a swimmer to concern themselves with breathing while developing their feel for the water.

Many of our swimmers use and recommend the MP Michael Phelps Unisex Focus Snorkel when performing many freestyle and butterfly drills.

  • Unique, low-profile, hydrodynamic tube reduces drag and eases breathing
  • Increases cardiovascular strength and lung capacity
  • Adjustable light weight head bracket with an integrated cushion ensures a comfortable fit
  • Silicone Comfo-Bite mouthpiece minimizes jaw fatigue
  • One-way purge valve positioned to maximize clearing of excess water
Developing a Feel for the Water

Pull Buoy

Many of our swimmers use and recommend the FINIS foam pull buoy. They find this ideal for resistance training”. These come in two sizes, one for seniors and the other for juniors.

  • Immobilizes legs to maximize the upper body
  • Immobilizes legs and provides lift to help build upper body strength and increase focus on proper hip rotation.
  • Aligns the body from head to toe and improves symmetry.
  • EVA Foam provides durability and prevents skin irritation.
  • Available in Adult and Jr. sizes; the Jr. size is ideal for swimmers with smaller legs or under the age of 12.
Developing a Feel for the Water

Finger Paddles

Many of our swimmers use and recommend Speedo Unisex Finger Paddles when performing sculling or ‘feel for the water’ drills.

  • Speedo technology ensures maximum comfort and fit
  • Engineered to create maximum resistance in the water
  • Increases upper body strength and power with every movement
  • Enjoy the improved grip and reduced hand fatigue with the ergonomically engineered shape
  • The stiff blade combines with a thermoplastic rubber over-moulding to provide high comfort with optimal power transfer
Developing a Feel for the Water

Hand Paddles

Many of our swimmers use and recommend Speedo Tech Paddles. They find these the ideal hand paddles for resistance training”. These come in three sizes, small, medium and large.

  • Designed and engineered to help swimmers get the right hand position and the right technique
  • Get more from every stroke with the enhanced hydrodynamic design
  • Specially-created air foil shape to help hand lift motion
  • Several flow holes across the paddle improve aquatic sensitivity
  • A great training aid
Developing a Feel for the Water

Takeaway

A feel for the water is the ability of a swimmer to place their hands and arms in the correct position, with the optimum force to obtain maximum propulsion.

  • This is developed through the consistent and persistent application of a series of correct swimming techniques.

Swimming resource library

We have produced a swimming resource library.

  • This contains links to our ever-expanding portfolio of blog posts.
  • These are subdivided by swimming category

Categories include: Swimmer Development | Swimmers Health | Swimming Coaching | Swimming Competition | Swimming Drills | Swimming Dryland/Land Training | Swimming Equipment | Swimming Psychology | Swimming Training

  • To access our library simply click on the attached page link: swimming resource library

Swimming Publications

Developing a Feel for the Water

We produce a growing range of publications on a wide range of swimming subjects.

  • These include competitive swimming drill publications for backstroke, breaststroke, butterfly and freestyle.
  • Which are now available in both Amazon Kindle and paperback formats.
  • For information regarding our portfolio please follow our link: Swimming publications

Swimming equipment

We have provided a recommended swimming equipment page.

  • It contains swimming equipment that we and our swimmers use and recommend.
  • You can access this page by clicking on the following link: swimming equipment

The Competitive Swimming Exchange – Facebook Group

The Competitive Swimming Exchange. Is a Facebook group to help exchange ideas and information to collectively improve the sport we love.

  • It’s an international group for all swimmers, coaches, teachers, masters, triathletes and swimming parents.
  • In fact, it’s for all those who are interested in competitive swimming, either in the pool or in open water.