Swim Speed Secrets: Master the Freestyle Technique Used by the World's Fastest Swimmers, 2nd Edition

Before talking about the book I will give you some background on myself so you can understand where I am coming from. I was a competitive swimmer when I was a teenager, between the ages of twelve and sixteen, then got bored and stopped for 20 years and only occasionally would I get back in the pool for a few months at a time. A couple of years ago I decided to get in shape, so I started swimming again and got into triathlons. My swimming technique was decent, but I definitely needed a refresher, so being a triathlete I found the advice most triathletes swear by: Total Immersion (TI). Some of what I discovered in TI was useful, but I already had decent body position and many of the things they recommend there made no sense. The whole swimming through the eye of the needle felt odd, and there was too much body rotation for what I remembered feeling when swimming in my youth. I got the pointers I thought were good and together with the enhanced fitness I was doing fine. But I got to a point in which I was not getting any faster and there was definitely still room for improvement. Luckily, that is when I found this book! When I started reading Taormina's book, I was really encouraged by some of her points, especially her comments about how gliding forever is not going to get you to be really fast and also that the pull is much more important than body position. The author goes to great lengths to explain the correct technique that should be used for the underwater pull, together with many pictures taken using herself as a subject, but also using other well-known pros in the sport. After you read through the explanations you will have a very clear sense of what is needed to go fast in the pool. Also, for the "unbelievers", she provides quite a bit of proof about the point she is making regarding the overwhelming importance of the pull compared to other aspects. The drills are also magnificent! You may be familiar as I was with most of them, but after reading her explanation and watching her online videos on how to do them properly and highlighting what to focus on, I realized that I was not working on the right things. It is hard work to spend a good portion of practice each time I get in the pool working purely on technique and forgetting about the clock, but this has made me considerably faster already. If you really want to get faster and are not afraid to do the work to get there, I recommend you get this book. I also bought her workouts: Swim Speed Workouts for Swimmers and Triathletes: The Breakout Plan for Your Fastest Freestyle (Swim Speed Series) , and they have also being truly helpful.

I am a 51 year old Master's Swimmer. I swam competitively in the 70's and 80's and then took about 30 years off swimming. Back in the 80's we learned the "S" pull; when I came back to swimming 7-8 years ago I found things had changed and now it was all about "early vertical forearm". I tried really hard for years to modify my stroke but could never get it. In the meantime I was getting very frustrated as my swimming seemed to be getting worse despite my efforts. My daughter's swim coach recommended this book. I read it cover to cover a number of times. I found some of the stuff in the beginning a bit hard to follow - but the pictures are really great. (especially if you are a visual person). I worked on the principles hard and tried to incorporate some of the recommended drills but not every day (hard since I swim with a team). It took about 6 months but all of a sudden one day it just clicked and the results were stunning. Once I got the catch right, I immediately dropped 3-4 seconds per 100 with less effort. Seriously. Overnight. When does that ever happen? Its gotten me so energized and excited about swimming again that I've entered my first meet in 2 years. So, in summary great book and I highly recommend it ! Have patience as it may take some time but once you get it right the results are dramatic.

I really like this book and the concepts that Sheila introduces. She spends an awfully long time telling you how she is going to tell you the secrets of getting faster.... half the book is telling you what she's going to tell you. And trying to convince you to try it. I was ready to try her method when I bought the book and didn't need to be convinced! I kept reading and wanting her to finally "TELL ME ALREADY". Once she does, the concepts are great and it has helped me with my swimming which is my weakest triathlon event.

This book is a dream come true! I love it! I am fairly new to swimming with only three triathlon seasons (from sprint to ironman distances) on my shoulders. Although I have taken many swimming lessons, I still had question marks. This book answered them in a very clear, simple, and effective way. The book is full of excellent quality photos, most of which in color, to aid the written part. It is a very entertaining book that pulls you in more and more as you progress the reading. The book is written in a way that made me feel like the author was talking to me directly and at times on the side of the pool explaining what needs to be done. I highly recommend it, but only to the ones I know are not going to race against me, HA!

I listened to a swim podcast with Sheila Taormina and felt that she had really gotten it, so I bought her book. I do not regret it. She explains the elements of speed perfectly, and her application of the Pareto principle (80/20) to the stroke, leading her to a focus on the catch and pull, is very clever. She gives you the important drills and elements to focus on. It really helped me to focus my swim workouts. Since reading her book, I only do the drills she recommends, and of course, regular freestyle. She also recommend specific dry land training to develop specific strength for the catch and pull. I got the tubing she recommends and have been happy with it. Sheila really writes with passion, which makes the book very readable. As the shortest female to win Olympic gold since 1921, it is obvious that she put a lot of effort into understanding the stroke and beating others by perfecting the technique. Also - her transition to triathlon and pentathlon underscores the point that she has an outstanding ability to study a technique, break it down, and perfect it. About me: I came into swimming late via triathlon. I had gotten a few swim books and DVDs before getting Sheila's book. I had taken lessons. I am not a good swimmer by any means, by I did qualify for US National Age Group Championship in 5150. Her approach has definitely made swimming more enjoyable, and step by step, faster.

I am a triathlete (or perhaps a wanna be) and swimming has not been my strength. While I get advice from coachs on movement that is visible outside of the water, I typically see MANY people doing exactly what those coaches are telling me my problem is, yet going MUCH faster than I. Clearly, something else is the problem, something going on under the surface, that's making the difference. This is where Sheila focuses - on the pull. She invokes the 80/20 rule and states that the other stuff - body streaminglining, arm recovery, hand entry - is all the in the 20%. And the best evidence she provides for that is Johnny Weissmuller held all swim records in the 1920s, while swimming holding his head out of the water! His speeds are certainly not up to today's olympic standards but he swims WAY faster than I or 99% of most triathletes (57s / 100m is Pretty Darn Fast). What he did have was a really good pull. This is a well-thought out book with drills and training approaches. She does take her time making her point in places but this is the best book on the important parts of technique that I've seen. Highly recommended.

good book, but nothing can really replace lessons from a qualified instructor. many of her points, however, are well taken. It is difficult to describe exactly the high-elbow catch in practice. everyone needs to have it explained in a way that makes sense to them. for me it was realizing that it's just a little movement up in the shoulder, while relaxing your triceps so your hand naturally falls into place.

If you're looking to improve your freestyle stroke, this is an awesome resource. I find the writing style engaging and easy to understand. There are pictures of almost everything that's explained so that you can see it in action. The author places clear emphasis on which components of the stroke are most important, while not neglecting the less important components. I haven't finished with reading it yet, but I guarantee I will read it cover-to-cover, some parts multiple times. I've done a couple of swim workouts while trying to incorporate some of what I've learned so far, and, although this is not a miracle cure (what legit source is?), I can see some improvements and a clear path forward.

Swimming is my hobby. This was a good choice because it shows and explains what you can do to improve your swimming. ... I am not going to the Olympics. I just need some guidance.

Sono un nuotatore Master piuttosto esperto e colleziono libri sul nuoto. Questo parla delle cose essenziali, fondamentalmente della prima fase di presa d’acqua nello stile libero (the catch), che vale da sola l’80% di tutta la bracciata. Consigliabile a tutti quelli che nuotano seriamente e non hanno fatto agonismo da giovani.

I swam competitively till 16. After 21 years (i am 37 now) without swimming i decided to return and went to some coachs, teachers and clinics, all of then wasted so much time on glide, elbow recovery, core etc. after reading Taormina’s book and implement her drills to my training i Improved my 100 freestyle by 10seconds… after 90 days back on swimming focusing on her drills i am doing 100 free under 1 minute, and during practice my 100s has been 1:10 without huge effort…great book. And u need only one afternoon to read and decide to implement her drills

Buen libro de técnica de natación centrado en el agarre acuático en el estilo libre, con reseñas históricas de la natación, como Weissmuller, Counsilman, Colwin, Maglischo, etc... Agradable de leer.

this book is for the competitive athelete or hobbyist who already know how to swim but wants to inprove speed. Any excellent book that covers the technical aspects of swimming making it possible for anyone to pick up and apply.