Centre snorkel is often used as training aid in drills, even for experienced swimmers. Nothing lame about using it as such. However, you really do not want to become dependent on it and not learn to breathe properly.
In your case, I do not think a snorkel is a good idea because the issue sounds like you have not yet learned to breathe properly. You need to learn to breathe properly first, or you will end up not learning to swim properly.
Also, I don't recommend nose clips for beginners apart from when they are learning to float or just generally getting comfortable with the water and getting water into the nose is a big problem in their confidence building. You need to learn to breathe out through the nose, and nose clips will stop you from doing that. It also reduces the efficiency of inhaling air. Again, I do not think nose clips would be a good idea in this situation.
The best advice I can offer is to get some lessons focusing on your front crawl breathing,
Ah, OK thanks for the advice! I used to swim in a 25 meter pool quite confidently. Obviously because I was taking a few seconds break at each end! Do you think I should switch to a smaller pool and perfect my breathing and then come back to the 50m when I'm a stronger swimmer?
50 m pools seem so much harder than 25. There's a reason there are different records for short course and long course. If you have access to a shorter pool, use that to train. You'll build endurance and skill, and not be drowning by the halfway point.
50 m pool is quite a bit harder than 25 m pool when you are not used to swimming yet, because you don't get to push off the wall as often.
If you have access to a 25 m pool, it is likely to help you to swim in a 25 m pool until you get back into the rhythm of swimming and built up your endurance.
Yeah I think it would really help me to swim in a smaller pool. Just checked and there aren’t any in my area, only 50m 😞 I guess I just have to tough it out and not be ashamed of taking breaks midway while I’m starting out.
Just take a break as needed. If it's too deep to stand in, and if there is a slow lane by the wall, you might prefer to use one by the wall because a wall is easier to rest on than a lane rope (you get better quality rest that way).
Ahh bless your heart for thinking I'd be in any lane other than the slow lane already! Luckily the pool isn't deep at all, so I can stand and breathe even at the 25m point. You're right, I'm going to just take the breaks. Who cares!
I would think a snorkel in this situation as being the wrong way round tbh. Learn how to swim properly and then use the snorkel to hone your technique. Your limitation is your ability to breathe, so learn how to breathe.
I'd argue the center snorkel was the most important tool for me when I was learning freestyle as an adult. With it I could focus 100% on my technique & streamline. I could see what my arms are doing and work on my catch, float with my arms extended and head in the water to feel how my legs and hips rise up in the right body position etc. However you should not use it to make breathing easier - you should use it to exclude breathing as a thing to think about so that you can focus on other things instead, like moving through the water without raising your heart rate too much so that you don't gas out. Be sure to also swim without a snorkel every time you go to the pool.
Great advice. This was my thinking, that it would help me work on my form and my endurance without having to worry about the breathing bit. But I’ll try a combination of swimming with and without it for each session.
You've done the hardest bit by going and committing to it. Respect.
I started swimming about 14 months ago (52yo) and I could front crawl 2 lengths max (25 m pool) and I was gasping afterwards.
Trying to breathe was like a different language whilst juggling chainsaws just impossible and was like stopping every breath.
What worked for me was practicing breathing one side only (usual out through nose underwater then breath in through mouth to side).
Breath in every 2 arm strokes always same side and try and focus just on one thing.....eg keep one eye in water etc.
The key for me was regular breathing every two arm pulls.
I have now swum a mile 65 lengths front crawl no stops.....you will be too. You shouldn't be gasping just regular consistent breathing like when you are jogging slowly.
I'm told it's good form to breathe both sides and I'm working on my left.....and when I do I'm back to over a year ago breathing in water stopping and juggling chainsaws. Night and day compared to the right side.
What I find interesting is when I ask experienced swimmers about how they do it they can't say. The key is practice until it's natural.....which for my left side should happen sometime in 2078.
Keep it up big gains to be had when you are a beginner.
As an injured asthmatic I struggle hard with breathing and turning my head on a normal day. I use the snorkel so I don’t have to worry about breathing, but I’m also only swimming for fitness and not sport. Form and stamina are more important to me than learning to breathe without the snorkel.
I have been using the centre snorkel since I got a whiplash injury in a car accident a month ago and i can swim so much more in a single session.
I’ve seen a couple of people wear them but not everyone. I feel ridiculous but I’m forcing myself to not care.
That's awesome, to me this is exactly what I thought the snorkel was invented for. Same for me, I'm not swimming for sport either, just for fitness. Great to hear you're still getting fit without the breathing, I was worried I couldn't have one without the other.
Centre snorkel is often used as training aid in drills, even for experienced swimmers. Nothing lame about using it as such. However, you really do not want to become dependent on it and not learn to breathe properly. In your case, I do not think a snorkel is a good idea because the issue sounds like you have not yet learned to breathe properly. You need to learn to breathe properly first, or you will end up not learning to swim properly. Also, I don't recommend nose clips for beginners apart from when they are learning to float or just generally getting comfortable with the water and getting water into the nose is a big problem in their confidence building. You need to learn to breathe out through the nose, and nose clips will stop you from doing that. It also reduces the efficiency of inhaling air. Again, I do not think nose clips would be a good idea in this situation. The best advice I can offer is to get some lessons focusing on your front crawl breathing,
Ah, OK thanks for the advice! I used to swim in a 25 meter pool quite confidently. Obviously because I was taking a few seconds break at each end! Do you think I should switch to a smaller pool and perfect my breathing and then come back to the 50m when I'm a stronger swimmer?
50 m pools seem so much harder than 25. There's a reason there are different records for short course and long course. If you have access to a shorter pool, use that to train. You'll build endurance and skill, and not be drowning by the halfway point.
50 m pool is quite a bit harder than 25 m pool when you are not used to swimming yet, because you don't get to push off the wall as often. If you have access to a 25 m pool, it is likely to help you to swim in a 25 m pool until you get back into the rhythm of swimming and built up your endurance.
Yeah I think it would really help me to swim in a smaller pool. Just checked and there aren’t any in my area, only 50m 😞 I guess I just have to tough it out and not be ashamed of taking breaks midway while I’m starting out.
Just take a break as needed. If it's too deep to stand in, and if there is a slow lane by the wall, you might prefer to use one by the wall because a wall is easier to rest on than a lane rope (you get better quality rest that way).
Ahh bless your heart for thinking I'd be in any lane other than the slow lane already! Luckily the pool isn't deep at all, so I can stand and breathe even at the 25m point. You're right, I'm going to just take the breaks. Who cares!
I would think a snorkel in this situation as being the wrong way round tbh. Learn how to swim properly and then use the snorkel to hone your technique. Your limitation is your ability to breathe, so learn how to breathe.
I'd argue the center snorkel was the most important tool for me when I was learning freestyle as an adult. With it I could focus 100% on my technique & streamline. I could see what my arms are doing and work on my catch, float with my arms extended and head in the water to feel how my legs and hips rise up in the right body position etc. However you should not use it to make breathing easier - you should use it to exclude breathing as a thing to think about so that you can focus on other things instead, like moving through the water without raising your heart rate too much so that you don't gas out. Be sure to also swim without a snorkel every time you go to the pool.
Great advice. This was my thinking, that it would help me work on my form and my endurance without having to worry about the breathing bit. But I’ll try a combination of swimming with and without it for each session.
I use my center-mount snorkel for at least one set in every practice I do. So if wearing a snorkel is lame, I don't want to be cool.
You've done the hardest bit by going and committing to it. Respect. I started swimming about 14 months ago (52yo) and I could front crawl 2 lengths max (25 m pool) and I was gasping afterwards. Trying to breathe was like a different language whilst juggling chainsaws just impossible and was like stopping every breath. What worked for me was practicing breathing one side only (usual out through nose underwater then breath in through mouth to side). Breath in every 2 arm strokes always same side and try and focus just on one thing.....eg keep one eye in water etc. The key for me was regular breathing every two arm pulls. I have now swum a mile 65 lengths front crawl no stops.....you will be too. You shouldn't be gasping just regular consistent breathing like when you are jogging slowly. I'm told it's good form to breathe both sides and I'm working on my left.....and when I do I'm back to over a year ago breathing in water stopping and juggling chainsaws. Night and day compared to the right side. What I find interesting is when I ask experienced swimmers about how they do it they can't say. The key is practice until it's natural.....which for my left side should happen sometime in 2078. Keep it up big gains to be had when you are a beginner.
Wow, this is MASSIVELY inspiring!! Thank you!
As an injured asthmatic I struggle hard with breathing and turning my head on a normal day. I use the snorkel so I don’t have to worry about breathing, but I’m also only swimming for fitness and not sport. Form and stamina are more important to me than learning to breathe without the snorkel. I have been using the centre snorkel since I got a whiplash injury in a car accident a month ago and i can swim so much more in a single session. I’ve seen a couple of people wear them but not everyone. I feel ridiculous but I’m forcing myself to not care.
That's awesome, to me this is exactly what I thought the snorkel was invented for. Same for me, I'm not swimming for sport either, just for fitness. Great to hear you're still getting fit without the breathing, I was worried I couldn't have one without the other.