The "inhale"

As I get a little Better in various aspects of my freestyle

Something I identified

1. My roll to air isn't perfect but adequate 80% of the time
2. I notice my INhale is

A. Still a bit panicked
B. I "think" I am taking Waaay to big of a breath as if I'm gasping for air...thus.
C. B may be causing me to hold my breath ever slightly causing me issues and thus making a 25Meter length still a struggle

My legs/hips/head all seem adequate

Any drills/suggestions?

How frequently are you breathing? How much pause-and-glide are you putting in your strokes? I find too slow a stroke rate and my breathing isn't adequate enough to be comfortable, even breathing every 2nd stroke. Try shortening your stroke (sacrilege I know) and take more strokes to help with your breathing rhythm. You can always lengthen it out and slow the rate down as you get more metabolic efficiency. If you feel like missing one breath would be disastrous and have your body screaming for air you should definitely breath more frequently.

If you breath every 3 currently you could try every 2 to the left one lap, then to the right on the next lap or another pattern like 2-2-3-2-2-3... or every 3 in the middle of the lap, every 2 in and out the wall.

... forgot to say... a problem my coach identified with me was I wasn't being patient enough with my leading hand as I turned to breathe. In turn my breathe was hurried and I was lifting up my head. Focus on keeping that hand out in front as you turn to breathe so your 'laser beam' remains straight and it feels nice and balanced. You could try something like catch-up drill or the TI skate drill. The superman glide is good too.

Maybe: superman glide a few times to find that sense of balance, then skate drill turning effortlessly to breathe (its an exaggerated over-rotation but should feel balanced and easy). Once you feel alright with that do a few repeats of a catch-up style drill being patient with that lead hand.

Originally Posted by ScoopUK

... forgot to say... a problem my coach identified with me was I wasn't being patient enough with my leading hand as I turned to breathe. In turn my breathe was hurried and I was lifting up my head. Focus on keeping that hand out in front as you turn to breathe so your 'laser beam' remains straight and it feels nice and balanced. You could try something like catch-up drill or the TI skate drill. The superman glide is good too.

Maybe: superman glide a few times to find that sense of balance, then skate drill turning effortlessly to breathe (its an exaggerated over-rotation but should feel balanced and easy). Once you feel alright with that do a few repeats of a catch-up style drill being patient with that lead hand.

Yah, I do feel my lead hand at times going down ...

I'll be testing again tomorrow

Originally Posted by ScoopUK

... forgot to say... a problem my coach identified with me was I wasn't being patient enough with my leading hand as I turned to breathe. In turn my breathe was hurried and I was lifting up my head. Focus on keeping that hand out in front as you turn to breathe so your 'laser beam' remains straight and it feels nice and balanced. You could try something like catch-up drill or the TI skate drill. The superman glide is good too.

Maybe: superman glide a few times to find that sense of balance, then skate drill turning effortlessly to breathe (its an exaggerated over-rotation but should feel balanced and easy). Once you feel alright with that do a few repeats of a catch-up style drill being patient with that lead hand.

Solo lead hand could definitely "stay out longer" but even when I tested "gliding" which kept my lead out, breathing by the end of the 25 was tough

Conclusions

1. Going slow , I get the 25m but still out of breath a bit
2. Going fast , I get the 25m but still out of breath
3. Even when balanced , out of breath

I know some have had "fear" of deep water, well I'm training in 4 foot. I'm thinking "'maybe" it's cause when I'm in freestyle I'm constantly "sinking" I "feel" the feeling of "better keep moving or your gonna sink"

I can float on my back, but it's gotta be "tension/fear".... Even though I'm not really scared! Subconscious ?? I've seen some
Folks say this was their issue with breathing but seems weird

Should
I train only in a 7-9 foot lane and see if I react different ?

Any thoughts appreciated

Originally Posted by jboosted92

Solo lead hand could definitely "stay out longer" but even when I tested "gliding" which kept my lead out, breathing by the end of the 25 was tough

Conclusions

1. Going slow , I get the 25m but still out of breath a bit
2. Going fast , I get the 25m but still out of breath
3. Even when balanced , out of breath

I know some have had "fear" of deep water, well I'm training in 4 foot. I'm thinking "'maybe" it's cause when I'm in freestyle I'm constantly "sinking" I "feel" the feeling of "better keep moving or your gonna sink"

I can float on my back, but it's gotta be "tension/fear".... Even though I'm not really scared! Subconscious ?? I've seen some
Folks say this was their issue with breathing but seems weird

Should
I train only in a 7-9 foot lane and see if I react different ?

Any thoughts appreciated

See attachment... Good idea?

I can't read the attachment. Not sure if that's because I'm on my phone or the forum has compressed it