Best way to go from novice to experienced swimmer?

[scskowron]

Hello all...here's my dilemma.
I'm hoping to get into BUD/S after I graduate from college in 4 years. The problem is, I am a terrible swimmer.
I never really took formal swimming lessons when I was younger and so it shows now. I can freestyle, but I do it with my head above the water and so people have told me it's wrong. I've tried to learn the CSS but I just couldn't get the coordination down. I can't freestyle more than a few hundred yards without tiring out, because I think I am doing it incorrectly. I don't know any other strokes.

My endurance is not a problem. I can run a marathon in good time. My PST scores are pretty good - 97 push, 131 sit, 18 pull, 8:46 run, but forget about the 500yd swim.

It's my technique and coordination that need work. I'm a real fast learner and a hard worker but I'm afraid I'll develop bad habits if I don't learn it correctly.

How should I go about becoming a good swimmer? Should I take lessons? If so, what kind should I take? And how many? I don't have a lot of money to spare so I want to make sure it goes to good use. Should I read a book? Buy a DVD? I have a pool at school that I can use a couple days a week (I have to travel to get there).
Any help you could give me is much appreciated.

[skullgrinder]

All I did is watch the CSS on youtube and kept watching it until i got it down in my head. Then I went and practiced it at the pool for a couple of hours until I had at least a basic understanding of the stroke. It is not that hard to do. I have never been a swimmer myself either but, was able to learn it in a couple of hours. Try it again, and then again. Who cares if you look like an idiot if this is what you want to do.

[Illmaxic]

you just gotta spend a lot of time in the pool. it takes hard work and a lot of time. you get out what you put in

[snow85]

honestly, if you're IN college, or will be going, sign up for the swim class under "phys ed" or whatever it is. you'll probably have a graduation requirement that it will meet. sign up for the beginner class. chances are that it will either be taught by a univ. swim coach, or experienced members of the swim team. after you complete that class, move to the intermediate or advanced class, where most of what you will be doing is swimming laps.

i promise you-- that will be one of THE best things you can do to help yourself, and will put you heads and tails above just about everyone else in your BUD/S class as far as swimming is concerned.

[MMAryu]

Hello all...here's my dilemma.
I'm hoping to get into BUD/S after I graduate from college in 4 years. The problem is, I am a terrible swimmer.
I never really took formal swimming lessons when I was younger and so it shows now. I can freestyle, but I do it with my head above the water and so people have told me it's wrong. I've tried to learn the CSS but I just couldn't get the coordination down. I can't freestyle more than a few hundred yards without tiring out, because I think I am doing it incorrectly. I don't know any other strokes.

My endurance is not a problem. I can run a marathon in good time. My PST scores are pretty good - 97 push, 131 sit, 18 pull, 8:46 run, but forget about the 500yd swim.

It's my technique and coordination that need work. I'm a real fast learner and a hard worker but I'm afraid I'll develop bad habits if I don't learn it correctly.

How should I go about becoming a good swimmer? Should I take lessons? If so, what kind should I take? And how many? I don't have a lot of money to spare so I want to make sure it goes to good use. Should I read a book? Buy a DVD? I have a pool at school that I can use a couple days a week (I have to travel to get there).
Any help you could give me is much appreciated.

I was in the same boat as you. In high school, I murdered the PST in the run, push-ups, sit-ups, and pull-ups. My swim time barely made the minimums. However, I worked on it in college (1 more year to go) by getting Stew's book and reading Total Immersion and it took me a couple of weeks to get the technique down and now, I can do 2000 yds no problem in about 38 minutes.

You may not need instruction, but it definately helps. I had a water polo guy teach me the eggbeater and I can now tread up to my waist temporarily.

Most big universities don't even have a physical education program where you actually receive credits toward graduation, but you can easily find instructional classes at your school gym(s).