Why breathing breaks down
Most swimmers lift the head to breathe, which drops the hips and slows the stroke. In good freestyle breathing technique, you rotate to air instead of lifting up and out.
Cues to keep it clean
- Keep one goggle in the water as you breathe so the head turn stays low.
- Exhale steadily underwater so the inhale is quick and calm.
- Time the breath with body rotation, not a big arm recovery.
Simple drill set
Try this freestyle swim drill set: 4x50 freestyle as 25 single-arm + 25 swim, rest 20 seconds. Focus on a low, quiet head turn.