Comments on: The Sinker and the Snorkel https://www.totalimmersion.net/blog/the-sinker-and-the-snorkel/ Total Immersion Fri, 20 Feb 2026 11:58:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=4.1 By: sclim https://www.totalimmersion.net/blog/the-sinker-and-the-snorkel/#comment-5742 Thu, 26 Mar 2015 21:59:00 +0000 http://totalimmersion.net/blog/?p=852#comment-5742 Coach Stuart: sclim here, heavy duty total sinker, which impacts leg sinking even more, of course. I am experimenting with snorkel as suggested in an attempt to get a handle on balance = leg sinking. My low position in the water plus my correction for leg sinking (which is to keep my head end lowish) combine to result in a critically low head position all the time, giving very little safety margin for periscope depth. I found right away that I had to be very disciplined in driving my shoulder down at hand entry, as I would then get a mouthful of water. This took away my immediate no-brainer “go-to” tool to raise my legs. You mentioned in your original post that

“If head-spine became out of alignment, hips sinking, snorkel would drop below surface and swimmer takes in water.”

I would like you to clarify that a little. That is, how does hip sinking lead to snorkel down. I know that if I detect leg drop and I revert to old panic to drive my head and shoulder down (I have been moderately successful in suppressing this reflex, but maybe not completely) I will get snorkel tip submersion. This old reflex is the only mechanism I can think of that makes your statement make sense. Otherwise snorkel tip under usually means GOOD balance form, maybe too good.

]]> By: wareed05 https://www.totalimmersion.net/blog/the-sinker-and-the-snorkel/#comment-187 Mon, 31 Dec 2012 08:23:47 +0000 http://totalimmersion.net/blog/?p=852#comment-187 Great! Thanks Stuart.

]]> By: CoachStuartMcDougal https://www.totalimmersion.net/blog/the-sinker-and-the-snorkel/#comment-186 Sat, 29 Dec 2012 20:58:16 +0000 http://totalimmersion.net/blog/?p=852#comment-186 Hi Walt,

You are in good company, and that includes me too. I have dense sinking legs, balance is critical, subtle position errors knock me off the balance beam quickly. Yes, First Strokes is an excellent DVD and suggest paring it with Perpetual Motion Freestyle in 10 Lessons DVD and Extraordinary Swimming for Every Body eBook. Also an excellent read (free from TI) is http://www.totalimmersion.net/images/pdfs/easy-freestyle-manual.pdf You will swim very well sooner than you may think.

Happy Swimming!

Stuart

]]> By: wareed05 https://www.totalimmersion.net/blog/the-sinker-and-the-snorkel/#comment-185 Fri, 28 Dec 2012 15:49:27 +0000 http://totalimmersion.net/blog/?p=852#comment-185 Hi. I am exactly like this swimmer. Would the First Strokes DVD provide a visual to the tips used to help the “sinker”? I really need to figure this out. Thanks.

Walt Reed

]]> By: CoachStuartMcDougal https://www.totalimmersion.net/blog/the-sinker-and-the-snorkel/#comment-184 Sun, 16 Dec 2012 19:37:12 +0000 http://totalimmersion.net/blog/?p=852#comment-184 Thanks Coach Todd. And yes, love the Finis Rangs too. Just picked up a pair for a paraplegic swim student and have worked out excellent. And the Rangs have about 1/2 the buoyancy as the pull buoy so the back end doesn’t “cork” arching the back. The Rangs seem to have ‘just enough’ buoyancy to assist the sinker and frees the legs. This is also wonderful for those that don’t have use of their legs and cannot trap a buoy between the legs – Rangs are awesome! Thanks!

]]> By: CoachToddE https://www.totalimmersion.net/blog/the-sinker-and-the-snorkel/#comment-183 Fri, 14 Dec 2012 16:26:35 +0000 http://totalimmersion.net/blog/?p=852#comment-183 Good job Coach Stuart. I have had three true sinkers and all in the last two years. I found the use of the Finis Rangs worked really well. I liked them better than a pull buoy because they are tow neoprene straps with a flotation pad on each one. They attach to the upper thighs and allow rotation of the hips where the pull buoy inhibits hip rotation. This was successful enough I didn’t need to use a snorkel.

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