The Effortless Swimming Podcast

If you find yourself gasping for air after just one lap in the pool, this episode is for you. After coaching nearly 10,000 swimmers over the past 19 years, I’ve discovered that mastering your breathing is one of the quickest ways to transform your swimming.

In this episode, I’ll show you how to regulate your breathing so you can swim lap after lap without feeling exhausted — like taking an evening stroll in the water instead of fighting to stay afloat. You’ll also learn the number one mistake most beginners make that can stall their progress for months, and how to fix it fast.

Plus, if you’re new to swimming, don’t miss our free 7-day email series that breaks down every key part of your stroke to help you swim more efficiently and confidently.

01:14 Why Does Your Breathing Matter?
01:42 Breathing In
02:16 Are You Exhaling Enough?
05:36 Time Your Breathing Correctly With Your Stroke
06:53 Breath In The Correct Position
08:20 Breathing Patterns
10:14 Keeping The Heart Rate Down
10:54 Drills
12:00 Adapting To Openwater

The freestyle catch is one of the most confusing parts of the stroke — and that’s exactly why so many swimmers either avoid it or get it completely wrong. In this episode, we’ll break down what the catch actually is, how to do it right, and why it’s the key to real propulsion in your freestyle.

If you’ve been swimming for a while but not seeing much progress, this might be the missing piece. I’ll share what I’ve learned from watching thousands of swimmers, coaching nearly 10,000 people in our freestyle clinics here in Australia, and studying what truly makes a great catch work.

By the end, you’ll understand how the freestyle catch ties into your whole stroke — and how to use it to swim with more grace, speed, and efficiency the next time you hit the pool.

01:20 Parts Of The Stroke
2:00 Anchor Your Arms In The Water
02:46 Beginning Of The Catch
03:17 Fingers Below The Wrists, Wrists Below The Elbow
4:57 Catch-Slow To Fast
05:33 Initiating The Catch
7:23 Pulling Straight Back
11:43Angle At The Elbow
12:16 Rotation
12:50 Pull/ Press Phase
13:29 Power Diamond
14:37 The Exit
17:30 Recovery
18:20 Skinny "S"

In this episode of the Effortless Swimming Podcast, Brenton Ford and Tas discuss the key takeaways from their recent training camp in the Maldives. They cover essential themes such as identifying bottlenecks in swimming technique, the importance of community support, overcoming self-doubt, and the significance of consistency in training. The conversation emphasizes practical strategies for improvement, including the use of simple cues, the power of reframing concepts, and the benefits of practicing techniques on land. The hosts also highlight the value of rhythm in swimming and the effectiveness of contrast drills to enhance performance.

00:57 Identifying and Focusing on Bottlenecks
04:13 Simplifying Drills and Progression Sets
07:26 The Importance of Community in Swimming
11:23 Believing in Yourself and Overcoming Doubts
15:37 Consistency Over Perfection
19:54 Process and Feel Over Data
23:54 Simple Cues Unlock Big Changes
26:11 Breaststroke Technique Insights
28:08 The Importance of Reframing Concepts
29:56 Rhythm in Swimming: The Waltz Analogy
33:13 Practicing Technique on Land
36:18 Using Contrast Drills for Technique Improvement
40:04 Sighting and Pack Swimming Strategies

In this episode, I’ll show you the 5 key steps to swimming freestyle with ease, so you can save energy, improve your speed, and feel confident every time you dive in.

If you’re an adult swimmer or triathlete who gets tired quickly, this is a must-watch. You’ll discover how to finally relax in the water, connect your stroke together, and build a freestyle that feels natural.

00:42 Good Body Line and Balance
02:05 Good Head Position
03:22 Setting Up the Catch Position
07:30 Recovery Not Working Against You
09:53 Check The Timing Of Your Breathe
11:42 Rhythm and Kick Timing In Place

Sam Short recently went a 3 41 for his. 400 freestyle. Let's take a look at what he does really well in his freestyle technique and he uses a galloping style of freestyle. So let's take a look at this style and how this kind of technique might benefit you. And I think it can be a very effective way to swim open water for a lot of people because in the open water you've got a bit more buoyancy with the waves and the chop.

This sort of technique can go a long way, and you do see this with a lot of the good. Triathlon swimmers, and a lot of open water swimmers as well. So let's take a look from the underwater shot to begin with. 

00:50 Head Position (Shoulders Near The Cheeks)
1:48 Elbow-The Widest Part Of The Arm (Power Diamond)
3:26 Galloping Stroke
4:07 Timing
8:17 Catch