Faster times and better technique aren't a guarantee when you train hard. What really makes a difference to your speed and efficiency in the water? The Effortless Swimming podcast helps make a complex sport really simple to better your swimming. We cover open water swimming, triathlon swimming and pool swimming. Hosted by Australian National swimmer and coach Brenton Ford.
At 20 years old, I missed qualifying for the National Championships by three hundredths of a second in the 50 backstroke. Fast-forward 18 years, and at 38, I qualified for Nationals in the five-kilometer open-water swim—training mostly just three times a week.
In this episode, I'm breaking down exactly how I did it in my late thirties: the one thing an Olympic gold medalist taught me that helped me generate more power with less eff...
.Today, we are talking about the 5th and final Core Principle of Fast Freestyle: find your rhythm and timing.
00:36 The Dancing Part Of Freestyle
01:13 Kick Timing
04:35 Use Different Types Of Kick
10:33 Serape Effect
13:35 Hand Speed
14:07 Split Tempo
17:54 Drills
19:22 8 Week Faster Freestyle Course
Join the 5 Day Catch Challenge
Join the Effortless Swimming Membership
Effortless Swimming Freestyle Clinic
01:40 No Need To Overpower The Catch
03:07 Teaching The Four Key Positions
04:00 Start Of The Catch
06:00 High Elbow Catch
07:35 Power Diamond Position
10:20 Exit Of The Stroke
11:36 YMCA Drill Progression
14:38 More Drills To Work On Your Catch
15:07 Setup Phase
16:35 Path Of The Hand
17:57 Hand Speed
Today, we are talking about the third core principle of Fast freestyle which is Rock, Return And Align.
00:36 Rock v.s. Rolling
02:15 Return
03:24 Correct Entry
06:08 Align
01:46 Proud Posture
05:06 Taut Core
9:00 Effective Kick
The 5 Core Principles Of Fast Freestyle:
https://effortlessswimming.com/5-core-principles-of-fast-freestyle/
01:45 Use Your Diaphragm
02:29 Breathing Exercises Out Of The Water
03:42 Box Breathing
04:04 Relax Your Chest And Upper Back
05:38 Having The Right Posture
06:52 Letting Go When You Exhale
In this episode, I'll share ten ways to increase your swim speed and become a better swimmer. So, let's dive in and explore these effective strategies.
00:35 Train Another Stroke
01:56 Change The Way That You're Training
03:10 Being Diligent With Your Skills
05:12 To Become Supple
05:59 Joining a Squad Or a Group of Swimmers
09:06 Occasionally, Don't Track Anything
10:25 Keeping Calm Under Pressure
10:43 Commit To A Swim Block
13:4...
Imagine holding a 1:05 pace per hundred for nearly two hours—no walls, no turns, just pure precision. Every stroke efficient, every breath controlled. How do you sustain that kind of speed without breaking down? What should your catch feel like? And how do you stay smooth when the ocean, the pack, and your own heartbeat are all working against you?
In this episode, we dive into the story of Nick Sloman. He's not the biggest guy on ...
If you're someone who avoids flip turns—or you're completely out of breath every time you try one—chances are, it's not your fitness holding you back. It's your technique. In this episode, I'm breaking down a simple, step-by-step method to help you master the tumble turn, so you can actually save energy on your turns, move faster off the wall, and keep up with the swimmers beside you.
By the end, you'll know exactly how to execute ...
Struggling with your arm dropping whenever you take a breath in freestyle? You're not alone—and there are five common reasons this happens. In this episode, we break down each cause, show you exactly how to fix them, and help you transform your breathing technique. By the end, you'll swim farther with less effort and finally feel like you have all the time in the world to take a smooth, controlled breath. Dive in and level up your ...
There are so many different things you can do to get faster in your freestyle. In this episode, I'm gonna break down five proven ways that you can swim faster for less effort. Let's get into it.
00:26 Point Your Toes Inwards (42% Faster)
2:07 Dont Pat A Cat
3:19 Press On Your Chest To Bring The Hips Up
4:24 Reach And Extension
7:15 Increasing Your Distance Per Stroke
8:41 Accelerate Through Each Stroke
If you're taking 50 strokes a lap but should be in the low 40s, the issue might be your body connection — not your strength. In this episode, we explore how elite swimmer Becca Mann fixed her "shoulders and hips not connected" problem, dropped her stroke count by nearly 20%, and became a record-breaking open-water athlete.
You'll learn what shoulder-to-hip connection really means, how to tell if you're disconnected, and the simple ...
If you've ever been confused about the different types of freestyle kicks — two-beat, four-beat, and six-beat — this episode is for you. I'll break down what each kick pattern means, how to do them correctly, and when to use each one in your own freestyle to improve efficiency, rhythm, and speed in the water.
00:48 What Do Beats Refer To?
00:59 2-Beat Kick
05:31 4-Beat Kick
07:38 6-Beat Kick
Get your HydroClear goggles here and g...
Two years ago, Brian Hans was swimming 2:00 per 100 yards—struggling to find rhythm and wondering if he'd ever feel smooth in the water. Fast forward to now, he's cruising under 1:30s and just placed 9th out of 171 in his Half Ironman swim.
How did he make that kind of jump? What changes in his stroke made the biggest difference? And what nearly stopped him along the way?
In this episode, Brian shares the breakthroughs, setbacks, a...
Bob Bowman — the legendary coach behind Michael Phelps and Leon Marchand — was recently on the Exponential Athlete Podcast, and listening to that episode completely changed the way I think about swimming. In today's episode, I'm going to share with you 12 powerful ideas I learned from that conversation — insights that can help you take your swimming to the next level.
00:53 Consistency Beats Perfection
01:40 Practice Performing Un...
If you find yourself gasping for air after just one lap in the pool, this episode is for you. After coaching nearly 10,000 swimmers over the past 19 years, I've discovered that mastering your breathing is one of the quickest ways to transform your swimming.
In this episode, I'll show you how to regulate your breathing so you can swim lap after lap without feeling exhausted — like taking an evening stroll in the water instead of fig...
The freestyle catch is one of the most confusing parts of the stroke — and that's exactly why so many swimmers either avoid it or get it completely wrong. In this episode, we'll break down what the catch actually is, how to do it right, and why it's the key to real propulsion in your freestyle.
If you've been swimming for a while but not seeing much progress, this might be the missing piece. I'll share what I've learned from watchi...
In this episode of the Effortless Swimming Podcast, Brenton Ford and Tas discuss the key takeaways from their recent training camp in the Maldives. They cover essential themes such as identifying bottlenecks in swimming technique, the importance of community support, overcoming self-doubt, and the significance of consistency in training. The conversation emphasizes practical strategies for improvement, including the use of simple c...
In this episode, I'll show you the 5 key steps to swimming freestyle with ease, so you can save energy, improve your speed, and feel confident every time you dive in.
If you're an adult swimmer or triathlete who gets tired quickly, this is a must-watch. You'll discover how to finally relax in the water, connect your stroke together, and build a freestyle that feels natural.
00:42 Good Body Line and Balance
02:05 Good Head Position
...
Sam Short recently went a 3 41 for his. 400 freestyle. Let's take a look at what he does really well in his freestyle technique and he uses a galloping style of freestyle. So let's take a look at this style and how this kind of technique might benefit you. And I think it can be a very effective way to swim open water for a lot of people because in the open water you've got a bit more buoyancy with the waves and the chop.
This sort...
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!
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