How to Improve Your Swimming Skills: A Step-by-Step Guide

With the right help, you can feel more confident in the water. You can also improve your endurance and perfect your strokes.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through step-by-step tips to help you improve your swimming skills. From simple techniques to more advanced drills, these insights will help you become a more efficient and confident swimmer.

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Beginner Swimming Tips

1. Master the Basics

Before diving into advanced swimming techniques, it’s crucial to master the basics. This includes learning how to float, maintain good body position, and control your breathing.

Many beginners struggle with body position, often allowing their legs to sink, which increases drag and makes swimming feel much harder. Keep your body as flat as possible, with your head in a neutral position. Looking straight down instead of forward will help keep your hips high and reduce resistance.

2. Work on Your Breathing

Proper breathing is one of the biggest challenges for new swimmers. If you feel out of breath after just a few strokes, the key is to exhale fully underwater and avoid holding your breath.

Try this: When swimming front crawl, exhale completely through your nose or mouth while your face is in the water. When it’s time to breathe, turn your head to the side and take a quick, relaxed breath before continuing your stroke.

3. Improve Your Kick

Your legs contribute to propulsion and also assist with balance and reducing drag. An inefficient kick can create resistance and slow you down. If your kick feels weak, try holding a kickboard to isolate your legs and build strength. Focus on short, quick kicks rather than big, forceful ones, which can create unnecessary resistance.

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Intermediate Swimming Tips

4. Perfect Your Stroke Technique

At this stage, efficiency becomes more important than just staying afloat. Perform each stroke with precision and minimal wasted effort.

For example, in front crawl, make sure your hands enter the water smoothly, extending forward before pulling back in a straight line. Avoid crossing over the midline of your body, as this can throw off your balance and slow you down.

5. Increase Your Swimming Stamina

Wondering how to improve swimming stamina? Building stamina is key to swimming longer distances without feeling exhausted. The best way is through interval training. Try alternating between fast and slow-paced laps to gradually increase your endurance.

For example, swim at a moderate pace for 2 minutes, then sprint for 30 seconds. Repeat this for 15-20 minutes and increase your intervals as you improve.

6. Use Swim Drills to Improve Efficiency

Drills are an essential part of swim training because they help to improve technique and stop bad habits. Here are a few to try:

• Finger-drag drill: In front crawl, drag your fingertips across the water’s surface when recovering your arm to encourage a high elbow position.
• Catch-up drill: In front crawl, bring one arm completely forward before starting the stroke with the other arm to improve stroke coordination.
• Fist drill: In front crawl, swim with closed fists to emphasize using your forearm for propulsion.
• Streamline kick: In breaststroke, extend your arms forward and keep your legs straight, train kicking from the hips to maximise glide and reduce drag.

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Advanced Swimming Tips

7. Develop Your Endurance

If you want to improve your long-distance swimming, you need to build endurance. One of the best ways to improve swimming endurance is to swim continuously at a steady pace for extended periods. Try gradually increasing your swim time each session.

It’s also important to train outside the pool. Cardiovascular exercises like running or cycling can help strengthen your heart and lungs, making swimming feel easier.

8. Strengthen Your Core and Improve Flexibility

Your core is crucial for balance and stability in the water. A strong core helps you maintain good body position and reduces unnecessary movements that slow you down. Incorporate exercises like planks, leg raises, and yoga into your routine.

Mobility and flexibility play a big role in swimming. Stretching regularly, especially for your shoulders, hips, and ankles, can improve stroke efficiency and reduce injury risk.

9. Learn to Pace Yourself

Swimming isn’t just about speed; it’s also about sustainability. Many swimmers start too fast and burn out quickly. Learn to swim at a pace that allows you to maintain energy throughout your session. A good way to practice this is by counting strokes per lap and working on reducing them over time.

10. Track Your Progress

The only way to know if you’re improving is to track your progress. Keep a journal of your swim times, distances, and how you feel after each session. Small improvements over time lead to big results.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How do you get better at swimming?

• Take structured lessons with expert coaches.
• Join a swimming group for motivation.
• Stay consistent—swim at least 2–3 times per week.

How long does it take to improve swimming?

Progress varies depending on your starting point, consistency, and fitness level. Some swimmers notice improvements within weeks, while others take months to see major progress. The key is regular practice and focused training.

How do you increase swimming speed?

To swim faster try to reduce drag where you can, refine your stroke technique, and strengthen your core and upper-body muscles.

How can I swim longer without getting tired?

Build endurance through interval training, maintain a steady pace, and use proper breathing techniques.

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Related Reading & Resources

• Benefits of Swimming for Older Adults
• Learn to Swim: A Skill for Life

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Charlie Nova Content Contributor, Warwick Sport

Charlie is passionate about fitness, health, and wellbeing. He enjoys climbing, lifting, running, football, and is always eager to try new sports.

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