Hot Swimming & Diving How-Tos

How To: Swim the backstroke for beginners

The back crawl is different to most strokes because you cannot see where you are going. It is a good idea to count how many strokes it takes you to swim a length so you will know when you are getting close to the end of the pool. Try and swim with all of your body close to the surface of the water, almost like you are lying on your back in bed with your head on a pillow. Follow along with this swimming how-to video and learn how to do the backstroke if you are a beginner.

How To: Swim using the butterfly stroke

Butterfly needs both stamina and technique, but the body movements are not difficult because you will have done many of them before in other strokes. When racing butterfly, your arms must come out of the water on every stroke. They must not drag through the water when they move from your hips to the entry position. Follow along with this quick how-to animation to learn how to do the butterfly stroke for swimming.

How To: Power off the blocks in swimming

Most top swimmers use the grab start to get their race under way. This gets you moving off the blocks quickly and into the water smoothly. The starter will not begin the race until everybody is ready and still. This is really important because you can be disqualified if you fall in before the start or if you are slow getting ready. Follow along in this how-to animation to learn the best method to power off the blocks in swimming.

How To: Do the tumble turn in swimming

This quick how-to animation demonstrates how to do a tumble turn in swimming. Follow along and see how easy it is to do tumble turns. The main purpose of the tumble turn is to finish one length and begin the next as fast as possible. In freestyle races, you do not have to touch the wall with your hands. Any part of your body is fine, and using the feet gets a much faster turn.

How To: Improve the back crawl turn in swimming

This quick how-to animation demonstrates who to do a back crawl turn in swimming. The hardest thing to do in the back crawl turn is to find the wall. There are a couple of ways to do this. The first is to look for the flags across the pool and count your strokes from the flags. The other is to count how many strokes it takes to get from one end to the other. You need to leave space to turn on to your front and tumble, so don't count all the way to the end of the pool.

How To: Practice breaststroke and butterfly turns

This how-to animations shows you the basic turns for breast and butterfly strokes in swimming. Watch and see how easy it is to improve your swimming techniques with these steps. The same type of turn is used for both butterfly and breaststroke. The laws say that you must touch the wall with two hands, so a touch and pivot turn is used. The main thing to remember is that you don't need to hang on to the wall. The quicker you touch it and pull your hands away the better.

How To: Do an advanced breaststroke in swimming

James Gibson, the former 50m world champion demonstrates a competitive level breaststroke. The breaststroke is a mixture of fast leg kicks and smooth arm and hand movements. It's key to have proper technique in the up and down movement as well as moving forward. Follow along with this swimming how-to video to learn how to do and advanced breaststroke with James Gibson. Do an advanced breaststroke in swimming.

How To: Improve your butterfly stroke with Steve Parry

Steve Parry, Olympic bronze medallist in the 200m, demonstrates tips to improve your butterfly. Everything is broken down to improving the fundamentals. Work on just the kick, just the stroke with one arm, then the stroke with the other arm, etc. Follow along with this swimming how-to video to improve your butterfly stroke. Improve your butterfly stroke with Steve Parry.

How To: Get comfortable swimming

Check out this instructional swimming video that demonstrates how to get comfortable swimming using these 3 drills to develop a feel of putting your head underwater and exhaling. These are 3 great drills for the very beginner swimmer. These drills will particularly give you the sensation of having your face underwater, exhaling and coming up to breath - without actually swimming.

How To: Practice the single arm drill for swimming

Check out this instructional swimming video that demonstrates the proper techniques to practiceing the single arm drill. The single arm drill ensures that you are getting the rotation you need throughout your stroke. Push off the wall with both arms extended in front of you with your hands touching, one on top of the other. Rotate to your side so that you are lying on your left side with your left arm in front on you. Now, swim down the pool, using only your right arm - once you get to the ot...

How To: Practice the top three swim drills

Check out this instructional swimming video that demonstrates how to improve your swimming abilities by practicing the top three swim drills. Learn how to use "slow arm recovery," "quick catch" and "high swingers" to improve your swim stroke. Swim coaches use a wide variety of techniques to enable a swimmer to swim efficiently. Incorporate these into your work out to make your stroke effective with this swimming tutorial video.

How To: Correct faults when swimming

Learn how to overcome and fix four common swim faults with this lesson from six-time Ironman champion Dave Scott. Check out this swimming tutorial video that explains how to correct faults while swimming. Concentrate on your stroke mechanics in the water, and learn how to correct common flaws when swimming with this instructional fishing video.

How To: Do a double medicine ball eggbeater drill for the legs

So you want to get your legs in shape quickly? The drill demonstrated in this how-to video is not only fun, but just a bit challenging and a great way to work your legs without injuring your knees. Supporting extra weight trains your feet to become a productive part of your swimming. Watch this video swimming tutorial and learn how to practice a double medicine ball eggbeater drill to improve leg strength.

How To: Train with PT paddles to improve swim technique&stroke

Most swimmers love paddle-training for the power they provide and the way they feel. Anything that makes the swimmer focus on what their arms are doing is a good thing. PT paddles, as demonstrated in this how-to video, take away power from the hands though, and force the swimmer to train to maximize efficiency of the rest of the arm and legs. PT paddles take away from pull power, and train arm technique. Watch this video swimming tutorial and learn how to train your pull and arm technique wit...

How To: Use Finis freestyler hand paddles to improve technique

While most paddles are multi-purpose, the Finis freestyler paddles, demonstrated in this how-to video, only work with, well, freestyle. While it's annoying to lug around that much equipment in your swim gear bag, unique equipment forces you to focus on one specific thing at a time. The Finis freestyler paddle is best used for improving freestyle stroke and efficiency. Watch this video swimming tutorial and learn how to train with Finis freestyler hand paddles.

How To: Do hand technique drills to improve swim stroke skills

Sometimes the best paddles for swim training are the ones at the end of your arms: your hands. By manipulating the shape of your hands, as demonstrated in this how-to video, you can learn all kinds of things about your stroke. Far too many swimmers don't even think about how they use their hands. Learn how to improve stroke and use your muscles better by using different hand drills by watching this video swimming tutorial.

How To: Train with paddles to improve swim strength &technique

Swimmers and coaches either love them or hate them, but you can't avoid them. This how-to video is all about swimming with paddles. Paddles have been part of swimming for a long time and will continue to be. They're great for building strength during practice, and improving stroke technique. Learn how to improve swim strength and technique by training with paddles by watching this video swimming tutorial.

How To: Practice a double arm backstroke

Do you overreach on your backstroke? Having a hard time keeping your hips up? Wondering how your hands should exit to initiate recovery? Want to get the feeling of where to start the pull? The swimming drill demonstrated in this how-to video is for you. Watch this video swimming tutorial and learn how to practice a double arm backstroke to practice your backstroke technique.

How To: Make your own prescription swimming goggles

Prescription swimming goggles cost almost as much as a new pair of glasses. That's way too expensive, especially if you don't get to go swimming as often as you'd like. But using the clever tips in this video tutorial, you'll be able to make a pair of prescription swimming goggles for less than you'd spend on a tank of gas to get you to the beach.