The Difference that Flat Makes - Experimenting with the DeSoto Speed Tube

[dgk2009]

Having trouble with this,I keep rolling backwards,any tips??

[MikeB]

I tried this yesterday, and I just could not do it. Holding my toes, I just sank backwards - my backside and legs sinking... I tried a big lungful of air and pushing my chest down - which I can kind of get when I'm drilling and sometimes when I'm swimming. But this... bit of an eye opener, shows that I can't really balance at all.

[Scotty]

Coach Suzanne:

When I was learning to swim many years ago, the "Jellyfish" float was a staple of learning tools used by the Red Cross.

But the way it was taught then, swimmers faced the bottom of the pool and pulled their knees up tightly to the chest. The challenge was to keep from tipping too far forward or laterally. Would this be as effective as the jellyfish that you are advocating? I'm not sure what you are referencing when you state that you should "reach toward the bottom" since the hands are holding the knees to the chest.

Can't wait to try this at the pool after I see your explanation.

Thanks,

Scotty

[CoachSuzanne]

It's just a different drill so that people can identify what muscles are engaged. Every phrase we tend to use doesn't always work for every person. If you're not having any major problems with balance, no need to try it. (but you might feel something new)

[CoachSuzanne]

Let go of your knees and your toes. the idea isn't to achieve perfect balance wih this drill, it's to feel something about the way your balance reacts to different ways of moving and being in he water. You may roll backwards, that's fine. Let your rolling stabilize first. Then simple reach towards the bottom of the pool. To do so you'll have to push against the buoyancy your lungs create by engaging some core muscles. When you do this, feel what happens with your hips.

[dgk2009]

I'll try it again tommorrow.

[kentakirk]

This discussion is very timely. I was told by a fellow swimmer on Friday that it looked like I was tilted on a 45 degree angle from head to toe while swimming. I certainly didn't feel that way! I look forward to giving the jellyfish drill a try to get the feel for the muscles that will bring my back half up to the surface.