One of the key advantages to using the Swimmer’s Snorkel is that it allows you to work on other areas of your stroke without being interrupted by the need to breathe. A constant flow of oxygen into the body goes a long way toward keeping the swimmer calm and focused on the task at hand. As coaches and athletes, we are consumed by the idea of swimming as fast as possible for as long as possible during training. Although this is arguably the best way to improve when you are new to the sport, elite level swimmers are quick to mention that focusing on stroke mechanics and your feel for the water are the best ways to keep improving late in your career (for example, Anthony Ervin achieving his personal best times in his early 30s).

That being said, the Swimmer’s Snorkel is the best tool for the job when you wish to slow things down and take a look at what is happening beneath the surface. There are many different methods for training balance and they depend mostly on which stroke you wish to improve upon. Free and Backstroke are long axis strokes, so timing of the catch and rotation are critical to the amount of force generated.

Core stability is also a critical element of the stroke, especially at the speeds of the elite-level athlete. For a great core and leg workout, try swimming Free or Backstroke and pausing with one arm out of the water. Kick with this arm extended for either 12.5 or 25 yards at a time. Kicking on your side is the easier option, while flattening out your body to face the sky or the bottom of the pool will make your work harder. You can also add a pair of Fins or Zoomers to this drill, if desired.