Checking in with Triathlete Magazine always proves to be a wealth of information for swim training tips and techniques. Today I found an article that reinforces a technique I personally use every time I’m in the pool. Visualization.

Matt Fitzgerald of Triathlete Magazine writes,

After all, lack of knowledge clearly is not the factor that’s holding you back. You’re already familiar with the various elements of proper freestyle technique: floating high in the water, rotating from the hips, pulling with a “big paddle” and the rest. You have a very clear mental vision of what your body should do.

During workouts, your brain commands your arms and legs to move just like Michael Phelps’s limbs do when he swims freestyle, but the muscles do not (or cannot) obey. If only you could get rid of your body and swim in your mind with the perfect technique you picture and intend there.

You can read the entire article on Triathlete Magazine’s website.

If you like the idea of swimming visualization and want to learn all there possibly is to know, then head on over to the website of Paul Newsome, the owner of an Australian swim coaching company. Paul and his team have developed an animated swimmer, named Mr Smooth, that is out of this world! He’s a virtual swimmer that can be viewed on the website or downloaded as an application. You’re able to control the speed at which Mr Smooth swims and view him swimming with or without water. It’s quite mesmerizing to watch actually and really does have a corrective effect on your stroke when viewed just before hopping in the pool. The download is free and the website is a goldmine of information on swimming visualization. Check out www.SwimSmooth.com to meet Mr Smooth.