One of the unusual aspects of the MGM Swim Team is that we don't have a formal coach. Our workouts are contributed by team members and any coaching tips are ususally gathered from fellow swimmers.

Along these lines, I'm posting a really interesting video and blog post that John Javorski forwarded to me last month. It features the 'Straight Arm' techique which is designed to lengthen your stroke while improving rotation. It is --without question--not a classic swimming technique. But I guess that's what makes it so interesting: If you think about it, it does force your had to enter the water at the furthest possible point, lengthening your stroke by default. The very high hand positioning over the shoulder probably helps rotate the core.

I'm not saying this technique is for everybody, and like any technique, it can be done incorrectly, causing a whole array of new problems. But it's worth watching and trying out. Let me know what you think.

Notes: The Evanston Masters meet is coming up on January 25th. Check out the meet details for more information about this event.