#404 : Why Your Arm Drops When You Breathe with Brenton Ford
Struggling with your arm dropping whenever you take a breath in freestyle? You're not alone—and there are five common reasons this happens. In this episode, we break down each cause, show you exactly how to fix them, and help you transform your breathing technique. By the end, you'll swim farther with less effort and finally feel like you have all the time in the world to take a smooth, controlled breath. Dive in and level up your freestyle. 00:38 Breathing 04:17 Rotation 05:57 Hand Entry 07:31 Exit Of The Opposite Hands 08:59 Starting Catch Position And Reach 09:54 Where Is Your Shoulder As You Reach Forwards 10:54 Quick Fix
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13:36
#403 : 5 Freestyle Fixes That Actually Work with Brenton Ford
There are so many different things you can do to get faster in your freestyle. In this episode, I'm gonna break down five proven ways that you can swim faster for less effort. Let's get into it. 00:26 Point Your Toes Inwards (42% Faster) 2:07 Dont Pat A Cat 3:19 Press On Your Chest To Bring The Hips Up 4:24 Reach And Extension 7:15 Increasing Your Distance Per Stroke 8:41 Accelerate Through Each Stroke
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#402 : Reduce Your Stroke Count From 50 To 40 Strokes with Brenton Ford
If you're taking 50 strokes a lap but should be in the low 40s, the issue might be your body connection — not your strength. In this episode, we explore how elite swimmer Becca Mann fixed her "shoulders and hips not connected" problem, dropped her stroke count by nearly 20%, and became a record-breaking open-water athlete. You'll learn what shoulder-to-hip connection really means, how to tell if you're disconnected, and the simple posture cues and drills (like 6-1-6 and side-kick rotation) that instantly improve your distance per stroke. A quick, practical guide to swimming farther and faster with less effort.
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#401 : Which Freestyle Kick Is Best? with Brenton Ford
If you've ever been confused about the different types of freestyle kicks — two-beat, four-beat, and six-beat — this episode is for you. I'll break down what each kick pattern means, how to do them correctly, and when to use each one in your own freestyle to improve efficiency, rhythm, and speed in the water. 00:48 What Do Beats Refer To? 00:59 2-Beat Kick 05:31 4-Beat Kick 07:38 6-Beat Kick Get your HydroClear goggles here and get 15% off from your first purchase. Code: PODCAST https://shop.effortlessswimming.com/ Grab the freestyle checklist here: https://effortlessswimming.com/freestyle-checklist/ Work with us (stroke analysis coaching): https://effortlessswimming.com/es-training-and-membership-page/ Join a camp: https://effortlessswimming.com/camps 5-Day Catch Challenge ➡ https://members.effortlessswimming.com/c/5daycatchchallenge/ The easiest way to improve your catch and shave 5 seconds off your 100m free. Transform your freestyle in 33 minutes: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ignysw4pFO0 Watch on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7PreNoGOEUE&t=7s
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#400 : How Much Can Your Swimming Improve In 2 Years? with Brian Hans
Two years ago, Brian Hans was swimming 2:00 per 100 yards—struggling to find rhythm and wondering if he'd ever feel smooth in the water. Fast forward to now, he's cruising under 1:30s and just placed 9th out of 171 in his Half Ironman swim. How did he make that kind of jump? What changes in his stroke made the biggest difference? And what nearly stopped him along the way? In this episode, Brian shares the breakthroughs, setbacks, and lessons from his two-year transformation—proving what's possible when you combine patience, feedback, and the right focus in training. 01:43 Introduction to Brian Hans and His Background 04:36 The Journey from Recreational to Competitive Swimming 07:06 The Importance of Technique and Video Analysis 10:06 Experiencing Breakthroughs in Swimming Performance 13:01 Navigating Open Water Challenges 15:57 Training Consistency and Session Structure 18:29 The Role of Flip Turns in Swimming Efficiency 21:39 Current Focus and Future Goals in Swimming 24:11 Patience and Long-Term Progress in Swimming
Faster times and better technique aren't a guarantee when you train hard. What really makes a difference to your speed and efficiency in the water? The Effortless Swimming podcast helps make a complex sport really simple to better your swimming. We cover open water swimming, triathlon swimming and pool swimming. Hosted by Australian National swimmer and coach Brenton Ford.
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