Very basic question about a neckweight...

[ShallowGuy]

Got a neck-weight which seems to be too light.

But how do I know it? When checking my buoyancy I should do it when moving or when I stopped? In other words - should my head be halfway between pool's bottom and surface even when I'm not moving?

My neck-weight doesn't do the job for now - it saves me half of a stroke, only.

For people who switched from no-neck-weight DNF to neck-weight one - is there a massive difference in technique? (so far I've noticed pushing of the edge needs different angle)

 

[Bussard]

Got a neck-weight which seems to be too light.

But how do I know it? When checking my buoyancy I should do it when moving or when I stopped? In other words - should my head be halfway between pool's bottom and surface even when I'm not moving?

My neck-weight doesn't do the job for now - it saves me half of a stroke, only.

For people who switched from no-neck-weight DNF to neck-weight one - is there a massive difference in technique? (so far I've noticed pushing of the edge needs different angle)

Try this, which is more or less some advice I read on here (posted by Kathryn Nevatt I think, helped me a lot) : Push off straight from the wall, when you stop moving your body should float up evenly, if you sink to the bottom when you stop moving try less weight, if your head floats up faster than your body, add a little more weight.

 

[thedentman]

Try this, which is more or less some advice I read on here (posted by Kathryn Nevatt I think, helped me a lot) : Push off straight from the wall, when you stop moving your body should float up evenly, if you sink to the bottom when you stop moving try less weight, if your head floats up faster than your body, add a little more weight.

Try this, which is more or less some advice I read on here (posted by Kathryn Nevatt I think, helped me a lot) : Push off straight from the wall, when you stop moving your body should float up evenly, if you sink to the bottom when you stop moving try less weight, if your head floats up faster than your body, add a little more weight.

I've just started my journey into freediving.
How do I know at what weight to start with for a neck weight for pool training?

 

[Apneaddict]

For a small woman, try 4 lbs.
For a medium sized person, try 5
For someone with large lungs... Maybe 6?

Adjust from there.

 

[ShallowGuy]

Thanks for replies.

Bussard - I will give it a go soon. With my 1,5kg neck weight I sink at first but after a while I go up (when doing what you wrote). But my guess is I've got a wrong push of angle.

I still swim like I don't have a neck weight even when I'm wearing it. It means instead of swimming horizontally and keeping position I push myself down towards the bottom to get more time before I start to ascent. For that reason i thought my neck weight is too heavy but it seems to be poor technique.

 

[Apneaddict]

FOR POOL, I'd rather be too heavy, that too light. I NEVER end up with my back breaching the surface after a push-off.

I'm either resting horizontal mid water column, or lying on my stomach on the bottom of the pool.

If your glide I horizontal and your arms / legs aren't falling / floating, you get maximum cm's / kick / push.

It's safe, because you ALWAYS have a pool safety / spotter.

 

[Bussard]

My first neck weight weighed just 1 kg, it helped but not a lot. Easiest way to find the perfect weight is wrap some lead in little inner tube pouches (100-200g each) and take them with lots of tape to the pool, and keep trying different weights until you're just right. When you're done you can fashion it all into a more permanent neck weight.

 

[ShallowGuy]

Bussard - yes, my 1kg (maybe slightly more) neck-weight helped me to cut only half of stroke. I've tested 2kg neck weight in the past but it seemed to slow me down significantly.

 

[JennyWren]

I've found the best way to get your weights right in the pool is to do it in two stages. First off all, find out how much weight you need in total, then figure out how to distribute it (neck/hips). You will need a friend to swim or sit underwater level with where you are swimming to watch you.

Kick off the wall and start like a regular dynamic, then after a stroke or two stop kicking but stay streamlined. Have someone watch you to see if you go up or down. Don't worry about your angle just yet. Adjust your weight until you don't go up or down at all (ideally - some might disagree but personally I like to be neutrally buoyant so I can use all my energy to go forwards rather than fighting to stay off the bottom or below the surface).

Then, once you know how many pounds total, do the same test - at this point you shouldn't be drifting down OR up, but you need someone to check your angle in the water. Move the weights around until you are nice and horizontal.

Remember that depending on how deep the pool is and how deep you like to be during your dynamics this might change a bit - a difference in a meter or so in a pool can affect your buoyancy. Also, I find personally that if I get too close to the bottom I feel more negative, you can kinda 'stick' to the bottom a bit and it can be hard to get back up into the middle of the water.

Above all though, find what works best for YOU. The 'right way' of weighting yourself for an 'expert' might not work for you. Experiment and see what feels most comfortable and yields the best results.