The Hardest Swimming Skills & How to Master Them

Swimming with confidence and safety is crucial, and so is the ability to assist others in the event of an emergency. There are various competency levels when it comes to learning how to swim, and some of the hardest are mentioned below. Continue reading to understand why these swimming skills are so complex.

Breathing

The endurance, efficiency, and overall experience for swimmers are based on various skills, with breathing being one of the most significant. Failing to master this technique can cause issues such as poor oxygen intake, leading to an improper body position or slower, less efficient swimming.

Various reasons can make it challenging to master breathing while swimming, but physical and technical factors are the most common. You need to know how to exhale against water pressure accurately, coordinate properly, and hold your breath when necessary, avoiding improper exhaling.

To make breathing less challenging, consider doing breathing drills, developing better breathing awareness, and learning more about respiratory muscle strengthening. Doing so can help you lower tension levels and avoid gasping for clear air when swimming, making breathing more straightforward and improving your swimming experience.

Kicking

Leg strength, proper body positioning, and flexibility can make kicking one of the hardest techniques for swimmers. The energy consumed when kicking can also cause swimmers to develop poor leg propulsion. The flutter kick is often considered one of the most difficult skills.

To make kicking less challenging, avoid initiating your kick from the knees. Instead, use your hips, as they can increase leg engagement and reduce dragging caused by constant knee bending.

During the practicing stages, you should always incorporate kicks in each set, allowing you to build your strength and coordination without taking on the training all at once. Some drills that can make kicking easier include kicking on the side, tombstone drills, vertical movements, wall kicks, and dryland training that can increase ankle flexibility.

Water Awareness

Drowning prevention is vital for swimmers, which is why water awareness is necessary. This skill can increase your overall safety, whether you swim in your backyard swimming pool, a lap pool, or another type of water environment. However, many swimmers find it challenging for different reasons, such as fear, natural anxiety, poor body balance, and ineffective teaching methods.

When you build water competency, you can swim with more confidence and truly enjoy the activity, whether for fun or professionally. Gamified techniques can make learning more accessible and incorporate visual and interactive aides. Water awareness will prepare you for different aquatic hazards, giving you the ability to respond appropriately and safely.

Butterfly Stroke

Stroke techniques are considered the most complex skills, with the butterfly stroke being the hardest for many swimmers. High coordination demands, synchronized arm and body movements, timing, and fatigue are some of the reasons it can be viewed as a difficult skill.
Using your hips instead of your knees can make it easier to do the butterfly stroke, along with other strategies that allow you to focus on body undulation and hip-driven movements. The drills and aids used to boost your butterfly stroke abilities make it easier for time management, allowing you to concentrate on breathing freely and moving your body with less difficulty. 

If you’re ready to build a pool of your own so you can practice your swimming skills, reach out to the experienced professionals at San Diego Pools. We’re a premier San Diego swimming pool contractor, and our pool design and construction experts are dedicated to building the pool that’s right for your family and providing you with the highest-quality service in the industry. Give us a call today.