For swimming, is it better to have more of your body out of the water or more in the water (freestyle)?

Where your body rides in the water is a function of your density. Do you float on top of the water like a ping-pong ball? Or bob just below the surface like a watermelon? This has to do with your body composition (fat vs. lean). Much of this is genetic and not something you can do much about.

What's more important to realize is that you need to maintain balance. If you lift some part of your body up above the surface of the water, one of two things will happen: 1) some other part of your body will sink, or 2) you'll need to exert effort to keep from sinking. There's a time and a place for each of these in swimming, and you need to be mindful of what you are doing.

Both backstroke and freestyle make use of the lift/sink dynamic. Lifting one arm above the water forces some other part of your body to sink. So when you lift one arm to recover, you rotate your shoulders, allowing you to "lean" more on the arm that is forced farther down into the water.

If you keep your head/neck up high, realize that it will make your feet want to sink. Do that to an extreme and you will need to either kick harder, or will your legs drag like a rudder. Coaching advice differs on where the water level should be at the head. I've personally preferred keeping my head in line with the rest of my body. It keeps my neck more relaxed.

This can get pretty complicated using just words. You will probably learn more by asking you coach for specific advice. He/she knows your stroke better than anybody, and probably knows best what you need to do to improve.

Good luck!

I just started swimming competatively this year, and it's tons of fun. After the season, I think I came from about 44 seconds on the 50 freestyle down to 30 seconds. In my opinion, don't worry about how far you are above or below the water.

Heres some things to keep in mind:

1) Take less breaths, this was the main reason why I dropped so many seconds. It keeps you in more of a streamline position.

2) Do your flip turns, this can save you about a second if done properly

3) Use your arms and keep your reach long. Sometimes I see swimmers stroke a lot but they don't go anywhere, focus on your reach.

4) Don't bend your knees while your kicking (kick small and fast). If you bend your knees, you'll find yourself kind of going backwards, or not going anywhere at all

5) Starts off the diving block are important. I could work on this myself, so thats all I can tell you. Ask your swim coach if you have one.

6) Also, swimming gear is important too. Wearing a swim cap helps.

Thats all i can think of :) good luck

It is good to keep about half of your body in the water because all of the power used to propel you is in the water. But you want to keep some of your body above the water so you have more resistance.

Tips:

1) you want to put your arms as far as you can so you have more power, because all the power is in front of you.

2) also small quick kicks help because of all of our kicks are only being used badly. That is because man/woman was not really made for swimming, but we try. The fact is that our kicks only put about 3% of the power to pushing us forward compared to sea animals which on average put about 80% of their kicks to going forward. That is why small kicks are best.

I am a competitive swimmer to and I swim the 50 meter freestyle also.

I'm a competitive swimmer as well.

My trainer always tells me to keep the water level at the middle of my forehead.

And to get better, running helps a ton. Work on your leg strength, and you will see improvement.

I've swam for 8 years and I got my time down to 25:36.

Im 14, and i go a 25.55 in the 50 free, my coach (mom) tells me my stroke is beautiful cuz i ride high on the water, so i'd say it's better to stay high on it..Also if you want to cut time, on your start and turn do a few quick, strong dolphin kicks, and it will shoot you up on top of the water..good luck

well thats a pretty decent time. well u wanna keep a tight flat stomach n keep ur head lookin at the ground keep ur head in the water and when necessary if ur right handed when u take a left stroke come out the water and take a good breath . u wanna take nice long strokes and keep ur hands cupped . never stop kicking!!! but keep as much as ur body in the water