u/deflatedegor

Hi fellow swimmers,

There is no shortage of youtube and instagram videos by highly skilled coaches and former competitive swimmers demonstrating perfect EVF technique. Yet for those of us with less shoulder mobility, there are only a few videos demonstrating modifications to textbook technique. There is a recent video from Effortless swimming which I greatly appreciated, although it is about arm recovery and preventing shoulder injuries rather than EVF. Video is here for those interested: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fOK1GAE9AMw&t=1107s

I have in general been trying to create the EVF with my right arm for a long time, but my right shoulder seems to naturally adopt a near straight arm pull. Even on dry land, when I try and internally rotate my arm into a paddle position, I feel stiffness and mild pain along the rotator cuff muscles, especially compared to my left arm. I asked Google AI about this and it suggested I stop trying to perform an EVF and just adopt the somewhat straight arm pull that my right shoulder naturally adopts.

This is supported by an interesting experience from the other day when working on one-arm drills with a more experienced, former competitive swimmer. During the drill, I stopped consciously focusing on both EVF and high elbow recovery, and just on creating propulsion, rotating and using the core, and staying streamlined in the water with the opposite hand out front. After putting both sides together for short, 25m lengths, I ended up going from 24 strokes per length to 20 and my time went down from a 2:00/100m pace to a 1:40 pace. I also felt like I was moving a lot more water. I imagine my right pull was more straight as well my recovery. I didn't feel the same stiffness or awkwardness in my joints.

Now, I haven't tried this over longer distances and I felt more tired from the increased exertion, but I wonder if it might be a useful strategy for those of us with less mobility and who are struggling to emulate textbook swimming form. I found the swim more enjoyable without constantly worrying about what my elbow and forearm were doing every stroke. Everything felt more natural and fluid.

I am wondering if others have had similar experiences and whether they've found other solutions? Does anyone think there is a middle ground between that perfect EVF and a straight arm which can still produce results and protect the shoulder?

Thanks for reading a long post.

Disclaimer: As nm4612 pointed out, Google AI is not a replacement for a good instructor.

A straight arm pull can increase the load and strain on the shoulders, especially without rotating, driving from the hips and core.