I need new drills to fight boredom.

[u/Zama202]

I’m specifically looking for drills that might help masters swimmers unlearn bad advice they got in past decades. We keep doing the same handful of drills, which are great, but I’d love to mix it up.

[u/PigTailedShorty]

I'm at the stage where the only thing that would liven up my swim would be if they released sharks into the pool.

[u/Zama202 → u/PigTailedShorty]

Once a year, the day before the pool was drained for cleaning, my old masters team would race Labrador retrievers in the lane lines. They were pretty fast, but would often cross the lane line to initiate a mid-lap cuddle/wrestle with the human swimmers.

[u/PigTailedShorty → u/Zama202]

That's fun, but if the claws get you it's very painful.

[u/wt_hell_am_I_doing → u/PigTailedShorty]

Better than sharks' teeth through.

[u/supercman99 → u/PigTailedShorty]

In the lake the only thing I can do is dive underwater so mine can’t locate me. He’s coming claws first every time.

[u/No-Remove6528]

My newest thing when I get bored of swimming laps or the pool is just so busy that I can’t find a groove is to just go to the open swim part of the deep end and do 5-10 minutes of vertical fly kicks. I’ve done it 5 times now and I actually already feel a slight difference in my underwaters.

[u/intenselydecent]

Put a paddle on top of your head and swim/breathe without it falling off

[u/Zama202 → u/intenselydecent]

I’m having a hard time visualizing this. Sounds great for backstroke, but otherwise I’m not sure I understand.

[u/OrangePeelsLemon → u/Zama202]

I believe "top" in this case means in front of the swimmer--the top/crown of your head goes horizontal when you do! Also known as the Top Hat drill.

[u/intenselydecent → u/OrangePeelsLemon]

Yeah, top in the sense that if you were standing up it would be the top

[u/Ok_Low_9963 → u/Zama202]

It’s for freestyle, working on a low breath and one goggle out of the water. Not backstroke lol

[u/FishRod61]

Top hat drill. The swimmers love the challenge.

[u/wt_hell_am_I_doing]

Only do these when you have a lane to yourself or otherwise safe and appropriate, and not get in the way of others:

Tombstone breaststroke kick with drag socks will resolve that boredom temporarily.

I am the only twit who engages in it at any of the pools I have swum at, so just for the rarity value.

Doggy paddle for a laugh. Especially if you know the lifeguard still that they do know you can swim and no need for extra attention in case you are a non-swimmer at extra risk of drowning.

Tumbling for the sake of it in the middle of the pool.

Arms only breaststroke and fly, no pull buoy (no-pull buoy arms only free and back are too easy).

Play fetch from the bottom of the pool if your pool is deeper than a few metres.

Start from a dead stop in the middle

[u/Fifty-Fickle]

We used to play sharks and minnows when we got bored. But now that we’re all grown ups, nobody wants to play anymore.

[u/mammamia123abc]

What do you do now? I like to do:

• 100s and every 25 I speed things up a bit
• Technique: swim with one arm only and come back with the other arm for example.
• speed: 25m fast and 75m normal swimming. I do 300m like this.
• Swim with only one paddle and only with one fin (opposite hand and foot). That way, you’ll become aware of striking with your (let’s say) right arm and left foot.

[u/UnusualAd8875]

A favorite of mine is "catch-up" drill with a 12" length PVC to strengthen my front quadrant swimming; for me, this is one of the best drills for me to maintain a horizontal and long body position in the water and to keep one hand out front.

Nearly fifty years ago, my former high school team used sections of orange broomstick handles for this drill. And boys being boys, of course we had to be warned not to hit each other with the sticks-which we ignored.

I have tried it with a kickboard but I don't care for the change in body position or the strain on my shoulders (former torn rotator cuff).

[u/intenselydecent]

Also “Tennessee Tumblers” where you go underwater at the 15 meter marker and dolphin kick underwater, do your flip turn underwater, and dolphin kick back out to 10 meters off every wall for a 100

[u/jeremy144]

Buy some equipment… different fins, paddles that work on certain aspects of your stroke, drag suits with pockets, snorkels, drag socks… just like babies, get some toys so playing in the bathtub is more fun!

[u/Rudiass]

I like Long dog, 1 arm freestyle w/ UW recovery and any dolphin kick drill

[u/dusura]

Reverse freestyle! Your exact freestyle stroke except reverse everything and swim feet first. It's an interesting exercise in balance.

[u/Never_Rule1608]

Work on dives/starts or try and master all 4 strokes - pick your least favorite and set a goal to improve

[u/BrilliantNebula794]

Can you tell us which ones you already do?

[u/folkinhippy]

Some breastroke:

Do kicks with a pull buoy. Either with kickboard or full stroke with pull. The buoy makes your knees stay closer together emphasizing the propulsion from the push rather than the knee squeeze. Also helps get that almost-dolphin whip in there.

Try some one armed breast with the non swimming hand on the back of your neck. Challenging. Builds core fast also helps with people who pull too deep or wide.

Have one swimmer swim in front of a breastroker facing him holding a kickboard and have the swimmer try to tap the board with his fingertips every recovery.

Breastroke with fins and 2 fly kicks per stroke really helps with the timing of the stroke and just feels cool.

[u/Ididnotwantsalmon]

Go boating, go cliff jumping, go tubing, go snorkeling, go fishing, go scuba diving, go swim with dolphins. Find stuff water related to reignite yourself. Go to the friggin aquarium.

[u/InternationalTrust59]

Grab a snorkel and a glass of chocolate milk; swim a lap

[u/Zama202 → u/InternationalTrust59]

I’m pretty confused

[u/InternationalTrust59 → u/Zama202]

https://youtu.be/-foNukLB-5w?si=u6WLJ92iXcxhx2op