The Effortless Swimming Podcast

This episode is taken from our latest Feedback Friday video. We have a triathlete from Sydney who holds 1:30/100m on his Ironman swims. Let's take a look at his strokes and see where he can find additional speed.

Watch on Youtube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7kEXXSc9eac

00:37 Head Position
01:04 Body Position
04:10 Reach And Extension
06:13 Arm Angle

Grab the freestyle checklist here: 
https://effortlessswimming.com/freestyle-checklist/

Work with us (stroke analysis coaching):
https://effortlessswimming.com/es-training-and-membership-page/

Join a camp:
https://effortlessswimming.com/camps

Have you ever walked away from a swim thinking,
"Why does this still feel so hard?"

You're not alone. Most adult swimmers struggle with the same few challenges—again and again—and it’s usually because no one ever showed them how to fix it the right way.

In today’s episode, we’re diving into the most common mistakes adult swimmers make—and more importantly, how to finally fix it.

Let’s get started.

00:17 Mistake #1: Holding Too Much Tension

04:07 Mistake #2: Looking Forward the Whole Time

06:12 Mistake #3: Overkicking or Stiff-Leg Kicking

07:38 Mistake #4: Beginning Your Catch Before You Finish Reaching Forward

09:28 Mistake #5: Rushing the Breath

Most swimmers think a harder kick equals more speed. But for adult swimmers and triathletes, it usually means more effort and less progress. So, if your legs feel heavy, your breathing feels rushed, or you’re constantly tired after short swims, it might be your kick that’s holding you back. Let’s fix it.

00:32 Mistake #1: Kicking From the Knees

02:33 Mistake #2: Too Much Kick

06:16 Mistake #3: Stiff Ankles

08:29 Mistake #4: Using It For Propulsion

09:15 Bonus Cue: Fishtail Feet

Do freestyle tips from the 1960s still hold up today? In this episode, I’m diving into some notes I took from a DVD created by 1960 Olympic gold medalist in the 1500m freestyle, John Conrad. About ten years ago, I was deep into studying freestyle technique—trying to learn everything I could—and John and I actually had a few back-and-forth discussions about our different approaches. We didn’t always agree, and today I want to revisit some of his ideas, share what I took away from his teachings, and talk about where I see things differently.

If you’re working on improving your own freestyle technique, I’ve also put together a free checklist to guide you step-by-step—you’ll find the link in the show notes. Let’s dive in!

00:49-Apply Energy Only When Needed
01:29-Swim At Floatation Depth
02:18-Anxiety Is Number 1 Priority
02:48-As You Relax, Your Body Increases In Volume
03:22-Swimming Efficiently Means You're Relaxed And Loose
03:49-Look Forward When Learning. Look Down When More Comfortable
04:39-Pivot Your Body
05:08-Relax Your Kick. It Is Not Worth The Effort
05:44-Kick On Your Back Instead Of Your Front
06:36-Both Arms Don't Go At The Same Speed
07:19-Delay The Pull
08:01-Learn By Exageration
09:12-The First Component Of Swimming Is Relaxing. The Second Is Catch Up. The Third Is Almost Catch Up
10:16-Don't Confuse Arm Speed With Swim Speed
11:05-Don't Rush The Breath
11:49-Exhale All The Time From The Nose And Mouth
12:45-Breathe Every 2 But Change Every 25 Meters Or So
13:26-Kicking On The Side Is Good For Developing Your Breathing To The Opposite Side
14:05-Keep Your Hand Loose In The Recovery
14:41-Use Body Roll To Bring Your Elbow Through The Recovery
15:25-Pull Harder Not Sooner To Go Faster
16:36-Don't Pull Too Early, Extend And Push Down Slightly

Grab the freestyle checklist here: 
https://effortlessswimming.com/freestyle-checklist/

Work with us (stroke analysis coaching):
https://effortlessswimming.com/es-training-and-membership-page/

Join a camp:
https://effortlessswimming.com/camps/

In today’s episode, I’m sharing 10 things I wish I knew when I first started swimming. Whether you’re just beginning or have been in the water for a while, these lessons can help you take your swimming to the next level.

Let’s face it—most beginners train too hard, focus on the wrong details, and waste a lot of time and energy. That not only slows progress but can lead to frustrating plateaus or even injuries like shoulder pain.

These 10 key insights will help you avoid those common mistakes. We’ll break down what truly matters when it comes to gear, technique, training, and mindset—so you can swim smarter, stay injury-free, and start seeing real improvement in the pool.

2:00 Essential gear only
3:24 Basics first
4:56 Training
6:40 Open-water challenges
8:09 Interval training works
11:56 More Than The Pool
12:56 Drills Equals Fast Swimming
13:57 Staying Consistent
15:02 Persistence pays off
16:13 The Real Reward