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:

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.

How to Improve Hip Rotation in Freestyle (and Why It Matters)

Unlock smoother, faster freestyle with better hip roll. Learn what it is, why it matters, and how to improve it for faster swimming.

Importance of Body Roll for Freestyle Swimming

7 Reasons Body Roll is Crucial for a Fast Freestyle

Optimal body roll in freestyle is critical for better technique and faster speeds. Here’s why body roll is something you should work on at the pool today.

Why Early Vertical Forearm is So Important for Fast Swimming

Hint: It’s Not Really About the Forearm

How to Improve Pacing Skills in Swimming

How to Improve Your Pacing Skills

Looking to up your pacing skills in the pool? Here are some actionable pacing tips and tools to help you master pace and your performance on race day.

How to Use a Drag Chute for Faster Swimming

Looking for tips on how to use a drag chute for improved swim performances? Read on for some proven tips, sets, and pointers for training with a chute.

7 Benefits of Training with a Drag Chute

Ready to take your swimming to the next level? Here are seven ways that a drag chute can help you become a better and faster swimmer.

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.

3 Swim Workouts with Drag Chutes

Looking for swim workouts with a drag chute to bolster swim speed and hone technique? You’ve come to the right place. Let’s “chute” for improvement and faster swimming.

Swim Workout for Improving Kick and Pull Connection

A Swim Workout for Improving Kick-Pull Connection in Freestyle

Struggling to coordinate a fast kick with your stroke? Here’s a swim workout designed to improve the connection between the arms and legs in freestyle.

3 Swim Workouts with Paddles (Improve Efficiency and Power)

Looking for some ideas for training with paddles? Here are three swim workouts with paddles for faster, more efficient swimming.

A Swim Workout for a Strong Freestyle Catch

Here’s a Swim Workout to Help You Develop a Stronger Freestyle Catch

Ready to power up your freestyle catch? Here’s a detailed swim workout to try that will help you develop a stronger catch.

Swim Set to Improve Kick Timing in Freestyle

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 Race Pace Set to Improve 100 Freestyle

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.

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.

5 Things Swimmers Can Learn About Visualization from Adam Peaty

Visualization is a tool to help swimmers perform under pressure. Here’s how the greatest breaststroker of all-time used it to swim to gold.

5 Mindset Lessons for Swimmers from Katie Ledecky

Katie Ledecky continues to cement her legacy as the greatest freestyler in history. Here are five lessons swimmers can pull from Ledecky. “I can’t stop

6 Benefits of Visualization for Swimmers

Wondering what visualization can do for your swimming? Here are some evidence-based benefits of visualization for swimmers for more confidence, less choking, and even better

How to Prepare for a Successful Swim Meet

Ready to uncork some best times at your next swim meet? Here’s what you need to know to prepare for a swim meet.

7 Mental Skills for Success on Race Day

The right mental skills can help you unlock faster swimming on race day. Here is a look at the right skills to use for competition.

How to Worry Less and Embrace the Setbacks

Frustrated with setbacks in the pool? Here are some tips for improving your ability to embrace setbacks and swim faster.

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.

VASA Trainer Pro Review: The Swimmer’s Ultimate Dryland Tool for a More Powerful Stroke

Wondering if the VASA Trainer Pro is the right addition to your dryland training? Here is a hands-on review and how it can help you swim faster in the pool.

3 Dryland Workouts for a Faster Freestyle Kick

Looking to level up your freestyle kick? Here are three dryland workouts designed to build a stronger freestyle kick.

5 Dryland Core Workouts for Faster Swimming

Looking for some ready-made core workouts for improved swim performance? Here are five dryland core workouts for every kind of swimmer.

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.

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: Here's Why You Should Be Meal Prepping

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.

The Best Swim Benches for Stronger and Faster Swimming

Swim benches are an excellent way to build superhero swim strength and improve technique. Here’s a hands-on review of the best swim benches for faster

How to Use a Drag Chute for Faster Swimming

Looking for tips on how to use a drag chute for improved swim performances? Read on for some proven tips, sets, and pointers for training

7 Benefits of Training with a Drag Chute

Ready to take your swimming to the next level? Here are seven ways that a drag chute can help you become a better and faster

6 Benefits of Swim Benches for Faster Swimming

Wondering if a swim bench can help improve your swimming? Here are six benefits of swim benches for better technique, more power, and faster swimming.

5 Best Pace Clocks for Swimmers and Teams

Pace clocks are an indispensable tool for accurate and focused swim training. Here is a look at the best pace clocks for every kind of

VASA Trainer Pro Review: The Swimmer’s Ultimate Dryland Tool for a More Powerful Stroke

Wondering if the VASA Trainer Pro is the right addition to your dryland training? Here is a hands-on review and how it can help you

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.