Laughlin Tipp Nr.2

Count your strokes

Your best measure of efficiency is how many strokes you take getting across the pool. Set an initial target 10% lower than your norm. If you usually take 22 strokes per length (SPL), make 20 your goal, using ease, not strain, to make it. After any length that exceeds your target, rest longer—try five or more deep slow breaths as a recovery interval—before starting again. Allow at least two to three hours of cumulative practice, over several 30-minute sessions, to adapt before trying to reduce your SPL further.