Swimming Articles
This page has all of the swim articles I’ve written since launching this website. There’s something like 1,000 articles on the site, all looking to address the question, “How can I help you swim faster?”
To answer this, the swimming articles that populate YourSwimBook.com cover a span of topics, from nutrition, to mental training, to workouts and sets for swimmers, and a whole lot more.
This site includes content on:
- Swim Training Tips
- Swimming Workouts
- Mental Training for Swimmers
- Dryland Workouts and Exercises
- Nutrition Tips
- Swim Gear Reviews
- Pool Gear Guides
- Pool Gear Reviews
The mission is simple: to help you unleash some serious high-performance on your swimming, whether that means hacking your practices or learning how to stay cool and collected when you are stepping up on the block.
There’s so much here, in fact, that it can be easy to feel a little overwhelmed.
Where to start?
Here’s a quick list of my most popular swim articles, which should give you an idea of what to find on the site:
Swim Training Tips
Swimming faster in the pool requires attention to detail, including swimming with excellent technique, using the right tools for getting more from your swim practices, and more.
When Should Swimmers Use Drills During Practice to Improve Technique?
Wondering when to use swim drills to accelerate technique improvement? Here are some handy guidelines and more advanced strategies to deploy drills for faster swimming.
How to Structure a High-Performance Swim Workout
Frustrated with ineffective, unfocused swim workouts? Here is how to organize a well-structured swim workout that delivers results and faster swimming.
6 Tips to Improve Your Distance Per Stroke
Ready to get more efficient in the water and increase distance per stroke? Here are some proven tips for increase stroke length with your swimming.
9 Reasons Why You Should Swim Every Day
Ready to get your chlorine on? Here are nine reasons to make swimming part of your daily routine.
7 Tips for More Effective Swimming Drills
Take your swimming drills to another level with these proven tips. Next stop: better technique and faster swimming!
8 Benefits of a Strong Freestyle Kick
Wondering why you should be spending more time kicking? Here are the benefits of training your freestyle kick.
For more articles and guides on how to improve swim technique and get more from your swim practices, click here.
Swim Workouts
Looking for some swim workouts and sets to take your training and race-day performance to the next level? Here is a huge collection of swimming workouts for every type of swimmer and goal.
Try This Swim Set to Improve the Kick Timing in Your Freestyle
Struggling with maintaining a steady kick when swimming freestyle? Try this swim workout that improves the timing between the kick and pull.
A Monster Race Pace Set for Improving Your 100 Freestyle
Ready to take your 100 freestyle to new heights? Here is a monster race pace set to give you the confidence to drop a nasty 100 free in competition.
Try This Swim Workout for a Silky-Smooth Freestyle
Ready to build a smoother freestyle? Here’s a workout that will help you swim smoother than ever.
3 Swim Workouts to Learn Proper Pacing
Improve energy efficiency, endurance, and swimming speed with these swim workouts for learning proper pacing.
A Set for Mastering Underwater Dolphin Kicking and Breath Control
Unlock monster underwaters with this swim set to help improve dolphin kick technique, breath control, and speed.
Try This Advanced HIIT Swim Workout for Power and Speed
Build power, speed, and even improve body position in the water with this hour long advanced HIIT swim workout.
For all of our swim workouts and swim sets, click here.
Mental Training Articles
Looking to elevate your mental game in the pool? From goal setting to developing epic levels of confidence on race day, learn the secrets of peak mental performance in the pool.
How to Deal with Pre-Race Nerves at Swim Meets
Struggling to swim fast under pressure? Here are some tips for how to manage pre-race nerves on race day.
Katie Ledecky and The Power of Asking “Why Not?”
Swimmers often find themselves stuck with doubt when it comes to doing tough things in the water. Here’s a simple question to ask when you
5 Mindset Tips from Jack Alexy for Faster Swimming
Looking to take your mindset and swimming to the next level? Here are five things you can learn from Jack Alexy, one of the fastest
Post-Swim Reflection: The Key to Improving Faster than Ever
Looking to improve faster this season? Start by reflecting and learning from your swims.
6 Tips for Days When You Really, Really Don’t Feel Like Going to Swim Practice
Going to swim practice feeling like a struggle? Here are some proven strategies and tips to conquer today’s swim practice, even though you might not
21 Journaling Prompts for Swimmers
Feeling stuck with your journaling? Here are some journaling prompts for swimmers to build self-awareness, confidence, and help swimmers maintain perspective over the course of
For more articles and guides on conquering mental training in swimming, click here.
Dryland Articles
Dryland and strength training are proven ways to get more from your swimming performance. From dryland workouts to core training to the best stretches for swimmers, we’ve got the pool-side of swim training covered.
Try This Dryland Exercise for a Faster Kick (and Faster Swimming)
Looking to get more speed from your kick? Add this dryland exercise to your swimming warm-up before your next all-out kick set.
5 Best Dryland Exercises for Faster Swim Turns
Ready to improve your swim turns? Here are the best dryland exercises to help swimmers achieve faster and stronger turns.
5 Best Strength Training Exercises for Swimmers
Get stronger and more explosive in the water with this list of the best strength training exercises for swimmers.
Coreintine: Check Out Caeleb Dressel’s Core Workouts
Here’s what the fastest swimmer on the planet, Caeleb Dressel, does for his core workouts.
3 Dryland Workouts for Swimmers of Every Level
No pool? No problem. Here are three dryland workouts for swimmers from beginner to advanced that you can do at home.
Does Being a Rock Star at Pull Ups Make You a Faster Swimmer?
Does being awesome at pull ups make you a better swimmer? Yes and no.
For more articles and guides on using dryland to help you swim faster than ever, click here.
Nutrition Articles
The swimmer’s appetite is legendary. We have tapped some of the best sport dietitians in the world to provide nutrition advice specific to swimmers.
What Swimmers Should Eat Before, During, and After a Swim Meet
Fuel yourself like a champion so that you can race like a champion. Here are some proven tips from sports dietitians on what to eat
What Do Olympic Swimmers Eat?
The swimmer appetite legendary. Here’s what Olympic swimmers put down while training and racing.
Supplements and Swimmers: It’s at Your Own Risk
You work hard in the pool, and now you want an edge over the other swimmers in the water. Here’s one of the big risks
5 Race Day Nutrition Tips for Swimmers
Confused about what to eat on race day? Here are some proven tips from NC State’s Director of Sports Nutrition to make sure you eat
Why Swimmers Shouldn’t Skip Breakfast
What we eat in the morning sets up for the rest of the day, both in the pool and out. Here’s why swimmers shouldn’t skip
Swimmers: Why You Should Be Meal Prepping
Want to eat better, save money and time, and also swim faster? Here is why you should start meal prepping immediately.
For more articles and guides on how to fuel for success in the pool, click here.
Swim Gear Articles
As a lifelong competitive swimmers, I’ve tested and tried just about every piece of swim gear under the sun. Below, you’ll find unbiased reviews of many popular types of swimming equipment.
9 Benefits of Training with a Swim Snorkel
The swim snorkel has become part-and-parcel of every competitive swimmer’s gear bag. Here are a bunch of reasons why you should use it in practice
FORM 2 Smart Swim Goggles Review – Worth the Upgrade?
With the FORM 2 Smart Swim Goggles, the world’s first and best smart goggles for swimmers get a big upgrade. Here’s what to know about
The Magic5 Swim Goggles Review – The World’s First Custom Swim Goggles
The Magic5 Swim Goggles are the first of its kind—custom built goggles made for the specific shape of your face. But are they as good
7 Best Swim Snorkels for Better Technique and Faster Swimming
Ready to throw down on a new swimmer’s snorkel? Here are reviews of the best swim snorkels for lap swimming.
The Best Black Friday Deals for Swimmers (2024)
Looking to get some new swim gear on a budget? Shop the best Black Friday deals for swimmers in this exclusive guide.
5 Best Swimming Apps for Better Swim Workouts
Looking for the best swimming app to maximize your time and effort in the water? Here’s a look at the top swim apps for conquering
For more reviews and to see all of the swim gear we have tested, click here.
Most Recent Articles
Prefer to go through all of YourSwimLog.com’s articles chronologically? Challenge accepted! Here is a full archive of all the articles posted here over the years.
Post-Swim Reflection: The Key to Improving Faster than Ever
Looking to improve faster this season? Start by reflecting and learning from your swims.
8 Drills and Sets for Faster Turns
Looking to improve your turns in the pool? Here are some sets, drills, and tips for faster turns and faster swimming.
3 Swim Workouts to Learn Proper Pacing
Improve energy efficiency, endurance, and swimming speed with these swim workouts for learning proper pacing.
3 Things Swimmers Can Learn from Gretchen Walsh’s Underwater Dolphin Kick
Ready to take your underwaters to the next level? Here are three things swimmers can learn from one of the fastest swimmers and dolphin kickers
6 Tips for Days When You Really, Really Don’t Feel Like Going to Swim Practice
Going to swim practice feeling like a struggle? Here are some proven strategies and tips to conquer today’s swim practice, even though you might not
7 Best Swim Snorkels for Better Technique and Faster Swimming
Ready to throw down on a new swimmer’s snorkel? Here are reviews of the best swim snorkels for lap swimming.
Try This Dryland Exercise for a Faster Kick (and Faster Swimming)
Looking to get more speed from your kick? Add this dryland exercise to your swimming warm-up before your next all-out kick set.
5 Best Dryland Exercises for Faster Swim Turns
Ready to improve your swim turns? Here are the best dryland exercises to help swimmers achieve faster and stronger turns.
How to Improve Freestyle Hand Entry
Dive into a perfect freestyle hand entry with our guide to faster, more powerful freestyle swimming.
A Set for Mastering Underwater Dolphin Kicking and Breath Control
Unlock monster underwaters with this swim set to help improve dolphin kick technique, breath control, and speed.