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If you are crossing over, make it your priority to fix it. Ask them to video you so you can check it yourself later on. A friend or coach can check if you are crossing over the centreline in front of your head, even momentarily. Three Ways to Fix Your Crossoverįirst up, you need to ascertain if you have a crossover. In an IRONMAN triathlon, this could cost you five to nine minutes. Swimming straight is vital and it is not uncommon for athletes that crossover to swim ten percent further than necessary. A crossover can also increase the risk of a shoulder injury, particularly if done in combination with a thumb-first hand entry.Ĭrossing over is a big problem even in open water, where there are no lane ropes or tiles to follow. While your legs are scissoring or snaking, it’s also harder to rotate your body to breath without losing propulsion. Swimmers with crossovers also attempt to regain balance by snaking their hips or doing a scissor kick, therefore creating more drag. Why Does it Slow You Down so Much?Ī crossover impacts your ability to grab hold of the water and pull it backwards, reducing your propulsion. If you can eliminate your crossover, the chances are you’ll improve several other aspects of your technique too. Not only does this slow you down, but it is also increases your likelihood of making other related technique mistakes. This affects your balance in the water and forces you to compensate in order to maintain a straight line. During a crossover, one or both hands will cross the centre line as they enter the water.
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This helps you maintain a straight line and enables you to grab hold of the water and propel yourself forwards. What is a Crossover?Īs your hand enters the water during front crawl, it should be perfectly in line with your shoulder.
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Worldwide swim coaching company Swim Smooth estimates that 70 percent of all their swim clinic attendees have a crossover. The crossover is an extremely common swim technique problem and one of the most destructive in terms of speed.
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