• #391 : The Latest Swimming Analysis Tools Are Getting Wild with Jaimie Fuller
    Aug 19 2025

    How does an Olympic medalist take 19 seconds off her 800 meter time and nearly beat Katie Ledecky? In this episode, I'm joined by Jaimie Fuller from EO Labs, the creators of the Swim Better Handsets, a company I've worked closely with since their early days to share how this breakthrough tech is transforming performance from helping Paige Madden make that jaw dropping improvement to giving triathletes a way to measure swim power in Watts, sync with training peaks, and use AI to pinpoint exactly where they're losing speed.

    EO is changing the way we understand the swim leg from Olympic podiums to your local pool. This could change the way you approach every stroke.

    00:00 Introduction to Elite Swimming Technology
    02:50 Transitioning to Triathlon Focus
    05:34 Integration with TrainingPeaks
    08:20 Gamifying Swimming Data for Triathletes
    11:08 Membership and Data Analysis
    13:52 Understanding Technique and Power Dynamics
    17:01 Visualizing Swim Data and Performance Metrics
    24:53 Analyzing Swim Performance Data
    28:37 The Role of AI in Swim Training
    32:23 Understanding Swim Technique and Efficiency
    37:45 Learning from Other Sports
    39:56 Case Studies of Elite Athletes
    45:39 Implementing Changes and Measuring Outcome

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    54 mins
  • #390 : How To Break 1:30/100m | Stroke Analysis with Brenton Ford
    Aug 11 2025

    This episode is taken from our latest Feedback Friday video. We have a triathlete from Sydney who holds 1:30/100m on his Ironman swims. Let's take a look at his strokes and see where he can find additional speed.

    Watch on Youtube:
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7kEXXSc9eac


    00:37 Head Position
    01:04 Body Position
    04:10 Reach And Extension
    06:13 Arm Angle

    Grab the freestyle checklist here:
    https://effortlessswimming.com/freestyle-checklist/


    Work with us (stroke analysis coaching):
    https://effortlessswimming.com/es-training-and-membership-page/

    Join a camp:
    https://effortlessswimming.com/camps

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    8 mins
  • #389 : Most Common Mistakes Adult Swimmers Make (And What To Do Instead) with Brenton Ford
    Jul 29 2025

    Have you ever walked away from a swim thinking,
    "Why does this still feel so hard?"

    You're not alone. Most adult swimmers struggle with the same few challenges—again and again—and it’s usually because no one ever showed them how to fix it the right way.

    In today’s episode, we’re diving into the most common mistakes adult swimmers make—and more importantly, how to finally fix it.

    Let’s get started.


    00:17 Mistake #1: Holding Too Much Tension

    04:07 Mistake #2: Looking Forward the Whole Time

    06:12 Mistake #3: Overkicking or Stiff-Leg Kicking

    07:38 Mistake #4: Beginning Your Catch Before You Finish Reaching Forward

    09:28 Mistake #5: Rushing the Breath

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    11 mins
  • #388 : Why Your Kick Is Slowing You Down And How To Fix It with Brenton Ford
    Jul 24 2025

    Most swimmers think a harder kick equals more speed. But for adult swimmers and triathletes, it usually means more effort and less progress. So, if your legs feel heavy, your breathing feels rushed, or you’re constantly tired after short swims, it might be your kick that’s holding you back. Let’s fix it.

    00:32 Mistake #1: Kicking From the Knees

    02:33 Mistake #2: Too Much Kick

    06:16 Mistake #3: Stiff Ankles

    08:29 Mistake #4: Using It For Propulsion

    09:15 Bonus Cue: Fishtail Feet

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    10 mins
  • #387 : Does 1960's swim technique still work? with Brenton Ford
    Jul 16 2025

    Do freestyle tips from the 1960s still hold up today? In this episode, I’m diving into some notes I took from a DVD created by 1960 Olympic gold medalist in the 1500m freestyle, John Conrad. About ten years ago, I was deep into studying freestyle technique—trying to learn everything I could—and John and I actually had a few back-and-forth discussions about our different approaches. We didn’t always agree, and today I want to revisit some of his ideas, share what I took away from his teachings, and talk about where I see things differently.

    If you’re working on improving your own freestyle technique, I’ve also put together a free checklist to guide you step-by-step—you’ll find the link in the show notes. Let’s dive in!

    00:49-Apply Energy Only When Needed
    01:29-Swim At Floatation Depth
    02:18-Anxiety Is Number 1 Priority
    02:48-As You Relax, Your Body Increases In Volume
    03:22-Swimming Efficiently Means You're Relaxed And Loose
    03:49-Look Forward When Learning. Look Down When More Comfortable
    04:39-Pivot Your Body
    05:08-Relax Your Kick. It Is Not Worth The Effort
    05:44-Kick On Your Back Instead Of Your Front
    06:36-Both Arms Don't Go At The Same Speed
    07:19-Delay The Pull
    08:01-Learn By Exageration
    09:12-The First Component Of Swimming Is Relaxing. The Second Is Catch Up. The Third Is Almost Catch Up
    10:16-Don't Confuse Arm Speed With Swim Speed
    11:05-Don't Rush The Breath
    11:49-Exhale All The Time From The Nose And Mouth
    12:45-Breathe Every 2 But Change Every 25 Meters Or So
    13:26-Kicking On The Side Is Good For Developing Your Breathing To The Opposite Side
    14:05-Keep Your Hand Loose In The Recovery
    14:41-Use Body Roll To Bring Your Elbow Through The Recovery
    15:25-Pull Harder Not Sooner To Go Faster
    16:36-Don't Pull Too Early, Extend And Push Down Slightly


    Grab the freestyle checklist here:
    https://effortlessswimming.com/freestyle-checklist/

    Work with us (stroke analysis coaching):
    https://effortlessswimming.com/es-training-and-membership-page/

    Join a camp:
    https://effortlessswimming.com/camps/

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    19 mins
  • #386 : 10 Things I Wish I Knew Before I Started Swimming with Brenton Ford
    Jul 8 2025

    In today’s episode, I’m sharing 10 things I wish I knew when I first started swimming. Whether you’re just beginning or have been in the water for a while, these lessons can help you take your swimming to the next level.

    Let’s face it—most beginners train too hard, focus on the wrong details, and waste a lot of time and energy. That not only slows progress but can lead to frustrating plateaus or even injuries like shoulder pain.

    These 10 key insights will help you avoid those common mistakes. We’ll break down what truly matters when it comes to gear, technique, training, and mindset—so you can swim smarter, stay injury-free, and start seeing real improvement in the pool.


    2:00 Essential gear only
    3:24 Basics first
    4:56 Training
    6:40 Open-water challenges
    8:09 Interval training works
    11:56 More Than The Pool
    12:56 Drills Equals Fast Swimming
    13:57 Staying Consistent
    15:02 Persistence pays off
    16:13 The Real Reward

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    18 mins
  • #385 : Most Swimmers Take Years To Learn This with Brenton Ford
    Jul 7 2025

    In this episode, we’ll break down that key insight—how chasing speed can hold you back, why real progress comes from subtle adjustments, and the shift in perspective that turns resistance into flow. If your stroke has ever felt more like a struggle than a rhythm, this episode is for you.

    1:10 Progress Isn't Linear
    2:18 Video Yourself Early
    3:12 Control The Mental Side
    4:23 Consistency
    5:52 The Clock
    6:49 Your Stroke Does Not Have To Look Like The Pros
    9:26 Comfortable Gear Matters More Than Fancy Gear
    10:24 Have A Goal Even A Small One
    12:05 How To Stay Calm In the Chaos
    13:37 Swimming Beyond The Pool

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    15 mins
  • #384 : How To Go From 2:30 to 1:15/100m with Brenton Ford
    Jul 4 2025

    In this episode, I'll give you the exact issues that hold swimmers back at each pace from beginner swimmers at two 30 per hundred or slower, all the way to advanced swimmers at one 15 per hundred for a kilometer.
    And I'll also give you actionable drills and strategies to help you progress to the next level.

    02:10 – Drill 1: Horizontal body posture
    03:30 – Drill 2: Balanced tempo
    05:00 – Drill 3: Efficient breathing
    06:20 – Drill 4: Catch & pull mechanics
    08:00 – Kit/gear suggestions
    09:30 – Putting it all together
    11:00 – Programming & progression
    12:30 – Real-life example
    14:00 – Summary & tips to keep improving

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    30 mins