Swimming Books

Total Immersion: The Revolutionary Way To Swim Better, Faster, and Easier

Terry Laughlin

Amazon Price: $10.88 List Price: $16.00 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Fireside Amazon Marketplace: 63 new & used starting at $8.89

Buy at Amazon.com

Browse similar items by category:
Subjects -> Sports -> Water Sports -> Swimming
Subjects -> Sports -> General
Subjects -> Health, Mind & Body -> Exercise & Fitness -> Swimming

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 101 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Better Technique = Better Swimming 5 out of 5 stars.
297 of 298 people found this review helpful.

I'm not a big swimmer, but I heard so much about this book that I had to check it out- and I'm glad I did. This book will save a lot of people who are trying to learn to swim better a lot of time. Here's why:

-the book concentrates on swimming technique, correct position, and how you're suppose to feel in the water
-the book gives you drills to reinforce the most efficient way to swim
-the book is very scientific and the info is based on hydrodynamics

The book covers a lot of ground, but the authors writing style makes is go by quickly (at least it did for me). The pictures were good and I thought the explanations of the techniques and the "why" behind them was very understandable. Not sure about the rotator cuff routine in Chapter 16 though- it's kinda long and I'm not sure if some of the exercises like the reverse biceps curl is really necessary (rec. Treat Your Own Rotator Cuff for swimmers who have shoulder issues).

In conclusion, I found the book very enlightening and recommend it to anyone (young OR old) who wants to learn how to swim more efficiently by learning the correct swimming techniques. The author obviously loves swimming and has brought all his years of experience and research into one handy resource.

Editorial Review:

Masters swimmer and acclaimed coach Terry Laughlin has taught thousands to swim more efficiently in the workshops he has given across the United States. In his book Laughlin details simple, step-by-step drills emphasizing the importance of technique and an innovative workout regimen.

Mind Gym : An Athlete's Guide to Inner Excellence

Gary Mack, David Casstevens

Amazon Price: $11.53 List Price: $16.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: McGraw-Hill Amazon Marketplace: 51 new & used starting at $9.35

Buy at Amazon.com

Browse similar items by category:
Subjects -> Health, Mind & Body -> Mental Health -> General
Subjects -> Health, Mind & Body -> Exercise & Fitness -> Swimming
Subjects -> Sports -> Baseball -> General

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 23 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Best one for athletes! 5 out of 5 stars.
4 of 4 people found this review helpful.

I have read several books on the mental game in sports and this is by far the best. I work with collegiate and professional athletes and recommend this so often that Gary Mack should send me a commission!!!

not what i expected 3 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

a solid read, but i was expecting a book that got more into the intricacies of sports psychology, but this book seems to focus more on your thinking off the court then on it.

Well-written and entertaining 4 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

If you want to read an inspiring book on the power of the mind in sports, then this book is for you. It is not too packed with information, but it underlines many of the important points in mental coaching. Great stories and examples make it an uplifting read. The only thing missing was a step-by-step instruction guide to mind management - practice makes perfect.

Editorial Review:

Drawing on his work with some of the top teams in professional sports, noted sport psychology consultant Gary Mack shares with you the same techniques and exercises he uses to help elite athletes build mental "muscle." These 40 accessible lessons and inspirational anecdotes will help you gain the "head edge" over the competition.

Fitness Swimming, Second Edition

Emmett Hines

Amazon Price: $12.89 List Price: $18.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Human Kinetics Publishers Amazon Marketplace: 37 new & used starting at $12.22

Buy at Amazon.com

Browse similar items by category:
Subjects -> Health, Mind & Body -> Exercise & Fitness -> General
Subjects -> Health, Mind & Body -> Exercise & Fitness -> Swimming
Subjects -> Health, Mind & Body -> General

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 30 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

The BEST freestyle book made even Better in 2nd edition 5 out of 5 stars.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful.

This is the best comprehensive freestyle book available, and I think I've read them all. I used the 1st edition about 6 years ago to rebuild my stroke, went through at least 2 copies of it and gave away about 4 others. The 2nd edition is not just a new cover: everything has been updated. Even if you have the 1st edition you should get this because it covers new developments in freestyle stroke mechanics. There are two elements that make this book exceptional. First is the instructional part, which puts hydrodynamics in practical terms, understandable to everyone and well-illustrated. It follows (maybe even leads) the current theories of efficient freestyle. It starts at a basic level, with balance drills etc, moving all the way through full-stroke integration, and then to power and speed. Second is the series of detailed workouts. It's the only book I know of that lays out a realistic workout progression for adult swimmers of any level. By realistic, I mean spending 50 to 75 mins a session, with a good combination of technique, endurance, and speed work. It's also realistic about the range of speed for most fitness swimmers -- so it's especially helpful for adult swimmers who want to learn or refine their freestyle and get a sense of accomplishment. You can start at the beginning and virtually coach your way through to the end. It's like doing Masters swimming with an expert, only self-coached. And Coach Hines has a distinctive sense of humor that makes an instructional book fun to read. A great accomplishment.

Editorial Review:

Want more from your workout? Whether you seek to improve your technique, trim your times, swim greater distances, or simply improve your fitness level, Fitness Swimming will help you achieve your goals, all in full-color.

Expert swim coach Emmett Hines has created 60 new workouts and 16 sample programs, each arranged into suggested training zones to correspond to your fitness level and performance goals. Over a dozen cutting-edge technique drills help you progressively build an effective freestyle stroke. The text covers stretching, warm-up and cool-down methods, heart rate zone targets, expanded instruction for stroke efficacy, progressive drills, conditioning tips, and fitness assessments. Fitness Swimming has all the information you need to chart progress and maintain peak performance.

Extraordinary Swimming For Every Body - a Total Immersion instructional book

Amazon Price: $14.95 List Price: $14.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Total Immersion Swimming Amazon Marketplace: 3 new & used starting at $14.74

Buy at Amazon.com

Browse similar items by category:
Subjects -> Sports -> Water Sports -> Swimming
Subjects -> Sports -> Coaching -> General
Subjects -> Sports -> General

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 4 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Excellent swimming resource 5 out of 5 stars.
5 of 5 people found this review helpful.

I learned a lot from this book about every stroke. It will be a constant reference and resource book for my triathlon training. Terry Laughlin has a way of making you want to go swimming just for the joy of it. His tips and techniques through drill swimming in a relaxed manner are wonderful for beginning swimmers and master swimmers looking to re-connect with the water. I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to swim like a fish.

Editorial Review:

A guide to swimming better than you ever imagined! If you've read any Total Immersion book, or have been practicing the TI method via DVD or coached instruction, this book will take you to the next level of understanding, effective practice and readiness to swim better than ever. Extraordinary Swimming for Every Body is for: (1) those who wish to advance beyond TI basics toward the highest levels of skill and mastery; (2) those interested in becoming complete swimmers; or (3) competitive swimmers of any age especially Masters swimmers. It includes our most up-to-date guidance on how to develop and train all four strokes. This book would also be the essential TI text for swimming coaches and teachers and those interested in becoming TI coaches. *All Four Strokes.

Workouts in a Binder: Swim Workouts for Triathletes

Gale Bernhardt, Nick Hansen

Amazon Price: $19.77 List Price: $29.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: VeloPress Amazon Marketplace: 37 new & used starting at $16.94

Buy at Amazon.com

Browse similar items by category:
Subjects -> Sports -> Individual Sports -> Triathlon
Subjects -> Sports -> Training -> General
Subjects -> Sports -> Water Sports -> Swimming

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 17 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Editorial Review:

Triathletes who hope to improve their swimming too often mix and match workouts or workout segments with no particular goal. The workouts in this set provide a handy, compact, inspiring — and waterproof — program. Written by an elite-level triathlon and cycling coach, and a former U.S. National Team swimming coach, the book comprises seven workout categories: Anaerobic Endurance Speed, Anaerobic Endurance Form, Force Speed, Force Form, Muscular Endurance Speed, Muscular Endurance Form, and Muscular Endurance Distance. The variety of workouts included and their ease of use keep the process engaging and allow users to more easily achieve elusive swimming goals. Workouts in a Binder can easily be used in conjunction with triathlon training manuals such as Training Plans for Multisport Athletes or The Triathlete’s Training Bible, or as stand-alone workouts for swimmers. Illustrated throughout, a bound set of waterproof workout cards for triathletes at all levels is also included.

The Swimming Drill Book

Ruben J. Guzman

Amazon Price: $13.57 List Price: $18.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Human Kinetics Publishers Amazon Marketplace: 44 new & used starting at $11.01

Buy at Amazon.com

Browse similar items by category:
Subjects -> Sports -> Training -> General
Subjects -> Sports -> Water Sports -> Swimming
Subjects -> Sports -> General

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 5 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

The Swimming Drill Book 4 out of 5 stars.
8 of 9 people found this review helpful.

This book is quite good for a review of the majority of strokes - great help to coaches and swimmers. It cover's about 90% of all the drills I have ever seen in my swimming lifetime.

Editorial Review:

Improve your times by improving your technique! Whether you are a competitive swimmer, coach, triathlete, or dedicated fitness enthusiast, The Swimming Drill Book will propel you to better results by maximizing efficiency in the water.

With 128 highly effective drills, expert instruction, and more than 375 detailed illustrations, this comprehensive resource will help to improve every facet of your swimming.

Establish a greater sense of balance and position in the water; maintain perfect form for the freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke, and butterfly; and master the techniques for starts, turns, and finishes. Use the drills individually or create a personalized program based on your goals and fitness level. Either way, the tools you need are within your grasp.

Dive into The Swimming Drill Book and see fast results!

Complete Conditioning for Swimming

Dave, Ph.D. Salo, Scott, Ph.D. Riewald

Amazon Price: $16.47 List Price: $24.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Human Kinetics Publishers Amazon Marketplace: 27 new & used starting at $15.59

Buy at Amazon.com

Browse similar items by category:
Subjects -> Sports -> Water Sports -> Swimming
Subjects -> Sports -> General
Subjects -> Health, Mind & Body -> Exercise & Fitness -> Swimming

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 5 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

From more powerful strokes to quicker turns, propel yourself to improved times with Complete Conditioning for Swimming.

This multidimensional training program uses fitness assessments to tailor strength, endurance, and flexibility exercises to each swimmer's individual needs.

Dave Salo, coach of Olympic medalists Lenny Krayzelburg, Aaron Peirsol, Amanda Beard, and Jason Lezak, and Scott A. Riewald, performance specialist for the U.S. Olympic Committee, have teamed up to create a comprehensive program that provides you with the following tools to improve your times:

• Exercises and drills for each stroke
• Event-based workouts and programs
• Dryland training
• Tapering for peak performance
• Year-round conditioning plans
• Nutrition before, during, and after swim meets

In addition, the 80-minute DVD takes you to the pool and into the gym to demonstrate the drills and exercises used by the sport's elite. Complete Conditioning for Swimming is simply the best guide to preparing your body for competitive success.

The Ultimate Guide To Weight Training For Swimming (Ultimate Guide to Weight Training for Swimming) (Ultimate Guide to Weight Training for Swimming) (Ultimate ... Guide to Weight Training for Swimming)

Robert G. Price

Amazon Price: $11.53 List Price: $16.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Sportsworkout.com Amazon Marketplace: 30 new & used starting at $9.99

Buy at Amazon.com

Features:

• Year-round swimming-specific weight-training programs
• Descriptions and photographs of nearly 100 exercises
• Used by top swimers worldwide
• Perfect for swimers of all ages and skill levels
• Includes links to free record-keeping charts

Browse similar items by category:
Subjects -> Sports -> Miscellaneous -> Reference
Subjects -> Sports -> Training -> Bodybuilding & Weight Training
Subjects -> Sports -> Water Sports -> Swimming

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 7 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Editorial Review:

The Ultimate Guide to Weight Training for Swimming is the most comprehensive and up-to-date swimming-specific training guide in the world today. It contains descriptions and photographs of over 80 of the most effective weight training, flexibility, and abdominal exercises used by athletes worldwide. This book features year-round swimming-specific weight-training programs guaranteed to improve your performance and get you results.

No other swimming book to date has been so well designed, so easy to use, and so committed to weight training. This book was designed specially for swimmers to increase strength, speed, endurance, and stamina. Not long after you begin following this guide you will cut seconds off of all of your strokes. Swimmers of all skill levels will be able to finish without running out of gas and will be able to swim at record paces until the end of the meet.

Both beginners and advanced athletes and weight trainers can follow this book and utilize its programs. From recreational to professional, thousands of athletes all over the world are already benefiting from this book and its techniques, and now you can too!

As an added bonus, this book also contains links to free record keeping charts which normally sell separately for $20.

About the Author

Rob Price is a first class certified personal trainer and a former fitness consultant at the University of Wisconsin. He is a national weight lifting champion and state bench press record holder who has been featured in newspapers and magazines all over the world including the USA Today for his sports-training expertise. Rob is a contributing author to OnFitness magazine and is the founder and head trainer of SportsWorkout.coms e-Training service, the #1 Sports-Training Service on the Internet.

The Fit Swimmer : 120 Workouts & Training Tips

Marianne Brems

Amazon Price: $10.36 List Price: $12.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: McGraw-Hill Amazon Marketplace: 62 new & used starting at $1.99

Buy at Amazon.com

Browse similar items by category:
Subjects -> Health, Mind & Body -> Exercise & Fitness -> General
Subjects -> Health, Mind & Body -> Exercise & Fitness -> Swimming
Subjects -> Sports -> Training -> General

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 12 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

This book puts an end to the drudgery of merely counting laps by showing you how to create your own individual fitness program--and have fun doing it! Learn how to:

• Determine your own fitness level
• Choose an appropriate training program and build upon that program with a variety of innovative workouts
• Use a timing clock and interval training to increase your speed and endurance
• Use various training equipment, such as kick boards, hand paddles, and swimming fins to strengthen stroke technique
• Improve your cardiovascular fitness, muscle tone, and flexibility

Included for quick reference are tips for streamlining strokes, checklists for proper stroke execution, and a helpful glossary of training terms as well as a section on the joys and challenges of open water swimming. "I am constantly looking for new approaches which will do at least one of the following, and possibly all three:

1. give me a change from normal routine
2. make me a faster swimmer
3. challenge me to work harder

The Fit Swimmer addresses all these in an informative and entertaining way, making this book a valuable resource for all swimmers." -- James E. Counsilman Swimming Coach Indiana University Marianne Brems is a Masters swimmer, coach of the San Mateo Master Marlins, author of Swim for Fitness and 101 Favorite Workouts, and a regular columnist for Swim Swim magazine.

Going Long: Training for Ironman-Distance Triathlons (Ultrafit Multisport Training Series)

Joe Friel, Gordon Byrn

Amazon Price: $14.93 List Price: $21.95 Not yet published By: VeloPress

Buy at Amazon.com

Browse similar items by category:
Subjects -> Sports -> Individual Sports -> Cycling -> General
Subjects -> Sports -> Individual Sports -> Running & Jogging
Subjects -> Sports -> Individual Sports -> Triathlon

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 18 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Editorial Review:

With its 2.4-mile swim, 112-mile bike, and 26.2-mile run, the Ironman-distance triathlon is a unique beast that requires a unique approach to training. Going Long provides triathletes with a clear blueprint for building endurance and improving their skills. Along with a training overview that describes how to plan a season month -by -month and day -by -day, the book offers sport-specific chapters that outline each discipline’s stages of development and drills to improve form and efficiency. A newly expanded section on training the mind explores the all-important psychological aspects of racing, including goal-setting and visualization. The authors map out a strategy for staying healthy and implementing a smart diet, and they even explain what to eat during a race. Also discussed are training with a power meter, building core strength, and common triathlon injuries, with tips on treatment and prevention. A detailed appendix includes key training sessions, workout examples, and strength training progressions.