Reducing Drag

[mrmarcusmorales]

I'm having difficulties reducing bubbles during my hand entries.
What are some basic drills to perform?
Is it just a matter of having more relaxed hands and slowing down the entry?

[westyswoods]

To get a feel for seamless entry, stand in water about waist deep bend over and simulate a stroke with a wide entry. This is also a great drill for breath timing roll to air while keeping one goggle in the water. Feel the water and hand to wrist to forearm to elbow.....then attempt a similar stroke in very short distances so you can stop think of what it felt like. Where is the pressure top bottom....

Have a great day Westy

[daveblt]

Don't forget the 'mail slot entry' with a relaxed hand.

Dave

[squidboy72]

try slowing your hand entry (recovery stroke). I notice as i try to go faster I forget and get bubbles....

[shuumai]

I like these videos on hand entries:

Flat entry: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vfh3gB9iM_Q

Pinky entry: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K2U9lFGR0gM

Thumb entry (I think this one is prone to cause shoulder impingement.): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XGlqsO_-8SM

[CoachBobW]

Originally Posted by mrmarcusmorales

I'm having difficulties reducing bubbles during my hand entries.
What are some basic drills to perform?
Is it just a matter of having more relaxed hands and slowing down the entry?

This is an opportunity for a great sensory feedback swim. You're going to both listen and see the effect of changing your hand entry.
As the hand enters it's always going to take some air with it. That can't be prevented entirely, only minimized.
Entering as if putting the hand through a mail slot is a good simile.
Someone else offered that thumb first may cause shoulder damage and that's correct.
As you swim, listen to the sound the entering arm and hand make.
Now move the hand entry out wider and see if the sounds quiet.
If you see bubbles trailing back under your nose as you swim forward, those bubbles are coming off your hand and you must ask, "why is my hand in a line ahead of my head and not ahead of it's shoulder or 'track'?"
Steve Martin used an 'arrow through the head' gag years ago which most people recall. I describe a long arrow and ask for hand entry out where the feathers and arrow point are.
When it gets quiet and bubble free (the fewer bubbles are still there, just under your arm, not your nose, so you don't see them), there should be an 'organic' feeling of right. You'll be traveling farther with less effort because you're finishing the stroke more cleanly.
Coach BobW, Dallas

[shuumai]

One other part of avoiding bubbles, in a way, is letting the bubbles dissipate before applying pressure to the arm. If you extend and pause slightly, the bubbles should trail off the hand, leaving you with more solid water.