Swim Tip - (Left) Hand in Channel (Alignment)

This was a timely tip for me... my coach pointed out that my hands under water are not doing what they should mid-stroke or shortly after entry.

I speculated that since I breathe on the right side, it was my left (weaker arm) that was waving about mid stroke. Coach commented that if get my arms going straight, 5 seconds would come off my 100m time.

Then I heard episode 5 in the "Be Race Ready - Tower 26, Gerry Rodrigues" podcast, in which he talks about correct alignment. Lots of problems are created when the hands enter water (not the forearm not the elbow) and get out of line with the shoulder-midline channel. Pull them straight back until the hand slips out near the hips.  "Once we cross over or go outside the boundary - stuff happens," Gerry says.

The channel is from the centre line down middle of body - to the outside of the shoulder  (about a foot to play with). Note tautness is the first priority, then alignment. Other issues concerning alignment, head shifts off the spineline, before turning to breathe - head needs to stay still, not come up, not dip down, not shift.

HOW to fix allignment issues:
1) have a coach.
2) Pulling - with ankles locked, snorkel (head doesn't move), pull buoy - start with a perfect line, practice hand entry and channel.