The Bottom Line
Fundamentals of Swimming is a great DVD for a triathlete just getting in the sport or that is a weak to mid-level swimmer. Nothing really against the title, but I would have named it Fundamentals of Triathlon Swimming. The DVD uses simple language and good video clips to teach the swim skills needed to complete a triathlon. It goes one step further with its "Homework Cards" that can be used at the pool to reinforce and practice the skills learned by watching the DVD. This is an excellent DVD for freestyle, but not for an advanced swimmer.
Pros
- Logical progression in teaching skills
- Homework cards to take with when swimming to work on skills
- Section on open water technique specifics
- Good primer for triathletes
Cons
- Aimed at triathletes only
- Does not cover other competitive swimming skills (but not intended to)
- Not much information for advanced triathletes
- Aspect ratio seems slightly off, but maybe that is just me
Description
- A great primer for a new or mid-level triathlete.
- Clear in-water and pool-side clips that explain and show each skill.
- Homework cards to use pool-side that re-enforce the skills taught by the DVD
- About 90-minutes of instructional video that incldues all the needed steps to learn how to swim in a triathlon
Guide Review - Fundamentals of Swimming - Stephen Taylor's Triathlon Training Series DVD
This is an excellent DVD for freestyle swimming within a triathlon, but not for an advanced swimmer. It will give the newbie or weak-swimming triathlete the things needed to improve their swim in a triathlon-focused workout and in a triathlon.
The DVD includes sections on:
- Breathing Rhythm
- Kicking
- Balance and Core Body Position
- Propulsion - How to Use Your Arms
- Feel for the Water
- Power and Glide
- Arm Entry and Arm Recovery
- Techniques for Open Water Swimming
- Swimming Drills (10 Specific Swim Drills)
- How to Practice Skills at the Pool (Homework Cards)
The method/techniques presented throughout the DVD are explained by the coach, then demonstrated in the water, then included on the Homework Card so that the swimmer can remember what to do once they get to the pool.
The thing that sets this DVD apart from some others are the Homework Cards. They are a key part of the DVD's teaching method. The cards lay out 10 pool-side skill-focused practice sessions. Each card includes a notation that explains:
- What to do
- How to do it
- How much of it to do
- When to move to the next card
Disclosure: Review samples were provided by the manufacturer. For more information, please see our Ethics Policy.
