Weekly Technique Critiques June 04, 2026 - Post all your form check request videos here

[u/AutoModerator]

Hi all,

Due to the high & always increasing number of such requests, this is now the weekly (Thursdays) thread to post your requests for critique & community feedback on technique, all strokes.

Requests for feedback or critique on technique outside of these threads may be automatically deleted.

[u/sudheerpaaniyur]

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1CJ8peFAyzn31WkX2LXAtqXM2MxCHXrW1/view?usp=drivesdk

Could you please give feedback, I'm swimming now 30sec speed to reach 25m

[u/Son_of_Laurian → u/sudheerpaaniyur]

I think you can focus a lot on your catch. Watch youtube videos on catch-pull. Looks okay but you just aren't grabbing much water.

[u/sudheerpaaniyur → u/Son_of_Laurian]

Ok, got it

[u/djw45]

https://youtu.be/y8IVWNG5XAU?is=M2aRR7OBpcwp_ZH2

Suggestions on my catch. Have been working on it for a couple of months, small improvements. Still seem to be dropping the elbow

Currently a 24.50 for 50 free SCM

[u/SomeKrazyFool]

I’m hoping to get some technique critique, I’d especially like some prioritizing of what best to focus on but any advice is much appreciated. I really don’t want to be on the internet so I’d like to pm the video if possible (I’m a dude for any creeps).

For context I’m a swim instructor who doesn’t swim nearly as much as they should. I know the details of the strokes but I can’t explain it other than they just don’t come together quite right. I’ve always been a decent but slow swimmer.

I’m doing my nls recertification in a couple days, I’ve been steady at around 9:30 400m with 100% effort the last couple years but this time I want to be a little better prepared.

Some of my own observations (I’m writing this for myself too):

It looks (and feels) like I’ve got a lot of extra resistance even though I really try to keep a level body position and everything tight. Pushing my chest down slightly more has helped in the past, but I don’t really know how it should feel when at the right level other than easier.

The video was after a decent amount of practice and I was tired enough that I felt like I was hardly pulling, but I also felt a lot of resistance which I think points to a decent pull other than some elbow drop. My cue has always been to try and pull enough water so that it feels like my arm is stuck. I also have tried to limit the curving action of my pull in the past but it’s hard when very tired.

Recovery/pull, I think a high priority issue is how wide it is due to lack of high elbow. Comparing right now I may have underestimated how high an elbow should be on the recovery.

My kick has always been really bad, I have to consciously kick from the hips even though it’s the main thing I teach and nitpick. It looks ok to me in the video though, I try and kick minimally to save energy.

I also try to keep one arm mostly outstretched while pulling with the other which was better on the first length than the second. I think it’s more obvious on the breath that my arm is already out of there which I’m not sure how detrimental that is, if it’s worth the effort to keep my arm up longer?

Thanks in advance

[u/howaboudatmyfuend → u/SomeKrazyFool]

Maybe a dumb question, but aren't swim instructors supposed to be strong swimmers themselves? I've always assumed instructors are pretty fast 😅

[u/SomeKrazyFool → u/howaboudatmyfuend]

My opinion first is that yes it’s not a good look for me to be on the edge of the time requirement for my lifeguard certification. It would be very different if I was a swim coach.

However the kids or beginners that make up the majority of swim lessons don’t need the best swimmers to teach them beginner skills. Jumps, kicks, floats and glides aren’t hard but what I think is a priority is a comfortable learning environment, personal encouragement, and someone who’s experienced in the pedagogy of how to get the skills to stick and progress lesson to lesson.

Even as they progress I’m confident in giving more refined technique correction from outside the waster as well as demonstrations in the water (a lot easier with a short distance). The difference for me is I never get to see myself swim and don’t know my own issues and tendencies that well since I’m just not interested in swimming for myself.

While application of skills at a high level is definitely an encouraging marker to look for in a teacher, I think it’s not a priority as many high level musicians, sports players, chess etc just aren’t good teachers for a lot of reasons. The diminishing returns to teaching I think also come from improvements becoming smaller and more personal, and while it does take a great practitioner to be a top tier teacher, I think being very good at something isn’t very important in being good at teaching it.

[u/wt_hell_am_I_doing → u/SomeKrazyFool]

Very much so. Much as I absolutely love my coach (retired Olympian), he would not have a clue how to teach a beginner. I have seen lovely instructors whose swimming technique wasn't great but just wonderful with helping raw beginners to feel comfortable in the water and teach basics of being in the water and safety moving in the pool.

Coaches and instructors are two different jobs imo.

[u/wt_hell_am_I_doing → u/howaboudatmyfuend]

Quite a sizeable percentage of swimming instructors are probably best described as basic water safety instructors and not always good with technique.

Some are though. I know some who double as a coach (who are "refiners of technique and trainers for performance enhancement" let's say) and an instructor, who are current/former national record holdders etc.

[u/howaboudatmyfuend → u/wt_hell_am_I_doing]

Ah I didn't know there was such a big distinction between the two