arms down the side

[wesseldk]

Hello
I'm an old competitive swimmer who stopped swimming at the age of 22 years of age. I was forced to stop because of a bad shoulder. shoulder was operated on when I was 26 years old. Now there's been two years and I have fortunately not daily pain anymore. but I can not use the shoulder to the same extent as before. I've trained a little freediving it last year but has been held back by that I have a sore shoulder when I work out with my arms static over my head, in the dynamic. as an old swimmer it pleases me not to change my technique to a poorer technique, arms down the side, but I will have to if I should be able to continue to train. so my question is how much impact it has on my PR. I currently use 6 kicks at 25m and I've swum 100m dyn 3 times. I've tried a workout with my arms along the side, and still use 6 kicks, but can not quite figure out if I use more energy. and last does anyone have videos of good mono fin technique with your arms down the side.
hope you can help
Greetings Martin Wessel

 

[Bill]

I have a similar problem and cannot get my left arm in a good position. The drag difference is big as your swim coaches told you, but I'm experimenting with one arm up and it seems to get some drag reduction. Slowing down a little might help too. To put things in the proper perspective, I believe there is more than one diver capable of 200 meters plus with bi-fins and arms down.

 

[mortenkv]

Hi Martin,
I think swedish Weine Gustafson did 200m(?) DYN with arms down the side - he has now changed to a more streamlined style and has recently improved to 210m in Århus 2009. But I guess its not only due the change in style. What you dont gain in streamline, you will gain in relaxation is my guess (more or less).

Hope to see you again - maybe at the National Championchips?
Morten

 

[Andrew the fish]

I think I have seen some swimmers having only one arm down the side. Maybe this is a bit more streamlined as opposite to both arms down. Another thought (theoretically) is to have some kind of fairing around the neck, sort of weight collar with a bit more thickness, just to blend in shoulders to the head. Not sure if this would be competition-legal.