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

• Better Technique = Better Swimming

  
  By AGGGSVFIW5NKP on 2008-09-29
  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.
  
  

• This method of swimming does wonders

  
  By A3ONXN417SE28I on 2000-05-30
  Terry Laughlin uses basic principles of hydrodynamics to show the correct way to swim "like a fish". Fish-like swimming is perhaps a misnomer, but he does detail how it's possible to reconfigure one's body in the water, to be like a yacht, not like a barge.

  There's a whole long section on hydrodynamics for the technically inclined, and for the Olympic watchers there's a bit about how elite swimmers have used these techniques to win. The prose tends toward the purple at times, but it's good background for what's to come: a whole series of lessons and drills that tell you what you're supposed to feel in the water.

  Until I heard the phrase "swimming downhill," I'd never really thought about what it should feel like to swim, gliding effortless through the water instead of being dragged by it. But with these and other catchphrases, Laughlin can get any swimmer attuned to what should be happening.

  The book itself is choppily arranged. The skill-building practice swims are located in the back of the book, with the actual descriptions of the skills somewhere towards the middle. Even the sections on weight, one for total body and one insanely long regimen for the rotator cuffs, are stuck in their own little sections far apart in the book.

  More logical organization would make this a much easier book to flip through, but the results are undeniable. My crawl stroke has improved dramatically, and I can't wait to see what tricks Laughlin has up his sleeve for the other three strokes. This belongs in every swimmer's bedside table, dog-eared and highlighted and worm.
  
  

• I learned to swim with lessons by following this book

  
  By A123NCA39W9CIT on 2003-05-21
  This book explains a swimming technique based on science and years of observation of top swimmers by a very gifted professional coach. This technique is about balance, active streamlining, gliding on your side between strokes and using your whole body to swim, not simply focusing on kicking, stroking and endless laps. It is based on proprioceptive training and learning to relax in the water, not swimming workouts. You will train your nervous system first, then you will get the strength and endurance training for free. Water is 1000 times denser than air, thus good technique will out-perform raw strength. You will not find many swim workouts in this book; you can learn at your own pace. This book is an easy and fun read and the technique is easy to learn.

  I'm 34 years old and I began training for my first triathlon 6 months ago; I could not swim 25 yards. I dreaded doing the pool workouts and was a bit afraid of deep, open water. Now I'm swimming over 1600 yards a session and I can sprint 50 yards in under 48 seconds. I learned to swim without lessons by following this book. I like swimming now more than cycling, which I've been doing very often for almost 15 years.

  I am a beginner swimmer, yet people at the pool and beach regularly ask me why my stroke looks so different and easy. You can explain and demonstrate the basics of this technique in 5 minutes. I'm convinced that anyone can learn it; it's common sense and fun to learn. I recommend this book to anyone who asks.

  If you want to learn efficient, relaxed, fish-like swimming, using the least number of heart beats and strokes, this is the book. If you want to slap and churn water for hours like a "pool robot", kicking furiously to keep your legs from dragging or just looking a workout, don't read this book. If you've never swam freestyle before, get this book. If you are looking for a swimming coach, make sure s/he is familiar with this book.

  I'm looking forward to doing a Total Immersion clinic as soon as possible!
  
  

• NOTICE: NEW EDITION EXISTS -- MANY CHANGES

  
  By A2NK18GCXPJFY on 2005-01-11
  In the revised and updated edition of 2004 the drills in chapter 8 are COMPLETELY changed. Why Amazon is not selling the new edition is a mystery to me. I bought the old one here and then discovered I had to replace it.
  
  

• Excellent book to improve your freestyle stroke

  
  By on 1999-11-03
  This book made a major impact on my freestyle stroke and basic attitudes towards traditional swim training. I highly recommend this book to anyone; however, there a few minor shortcomings. First, the beginning of the book drags on a bit about the benefits of the "Total Immersion" swim program. If you can make throught the beginning, the later chapters are the big payoff. Second, I found Terry's ideas about head position a bit contradictory. Terry talks about looking towards the end of the pool; however, most people (including a Swimming Fitness article authored by Terry) talk about looking down. Once you look up, your hips start to sink -- The big problem Terry tries to cure. Finally, the book only talks about freestyle. Even though Terry has ways to improve the other strokes (check out his Web site for his videos), he doesn't mention them in this book. Despite those three minor flaws, the book is excellent and really works.
  
  
• As a swimming instructor for over 5 years...
  By A335K5KQ5TPPQ1 on 2001-12-10
  I have been teaching swimming for over 5 years, and when I picked up this book, I was really excited!
  It now sits on my bookshelf as a reference guide, and I recommend it to anyone I know who is learning to swim for racing or fitness, and also to people who teach swimming.
  I have been swimming all my life, and have 2 seasons of triathlon under my belt. This book taught me many new and innovative ways to teach kids 'how to feel the water' to improve their stroke. After I read some of the points in the book, I went to test it out in the pool during one of my swimming sessions. The principles all worked, and put everything I have learned since I was 2 into perspective! I now know how to swim faster and smoother! I was very impressed that a book could do this, compared to the many years of swim instruction.
  As for some of the negative comments made about this book, I will address a few:
  *diagrams... if you read the introduction, it mentions how to best use the book, and how it is laid out. The book actually has a very easy layout: the intorduction for the concept (with 'proof' of why this concept works), a section (33 pages!) with diagrams to be used as the reference section for the drills in the next secions, sections on how to use the pace clock and equipment... among other things.

  *"wordy"... I found this book to be great for teaching many people. The 'words' are there to illustrate and explain key concepts of swimming. I often had a hard time explaining concepts of "why" you wanted to swim this way (which adults always want to know) and what a proper technique should feel like. Knowing these things not only helped me become a better swimmer, it also taught me how to explain the concepts better to my sutdnets. THe neatest thing is, it taught me how to teach myself how to swim. I say, keep the words, they are excellent.

  *the logistics... one person commented that the book focused on the aspect of body position way too much. From teaching every age from 3 months to 60+ years old, I can tell you that EVERYONE starts at the same place: learning PROPER body position. This book takes you back to the first part, as the vast majority of the population has not learned proper body position to begin with. The individual differences in people will determine how much their legs sink or float, but if you use the principles in this book, it will help you swim to your potential. Proper balance in the water is essential. I have spent countless hours watching the public swim laps and comparing their techinique to how the olympic swimmers swim at the pool I work at, and what this book teaches can be recognized in the elite athletes. I have also received coaching from various national level coaches, and they also teach these same prinicples. They train the olympians, so who is to argue?

  This book is an EXCELLENT value for those who can't get to, or afford the author's workshops. If I had the money and the time to go, I would definitely go!
  ...I highly reccommend this book to those who want to swim faster and feel more confident and comfortable in the water.
  
  

• This method made me a competent, confident swimmer in 1 week
  By on 2004-06-04
  SHORT VERSION

  -This method is incredible and works.
  -Don't buy this book. Instead buy the updated version "Swimming made easy." It contains significantly improved drills.
  -To really make it easy to learn this method, the DVD is gold. A moving image is worth more than a thousand words in this instance. The DVD contains the same drills as the book "swimming made easy."

  LONG VERSION
  First I have to point out that while this method is incredible, this particular book is not the one to get. Terry's book "Swimming made easy" contains almost identical material in the first several chapters but the drill portion has been improved dramatically. I originally bought this book and mastered the balancing drills but when I started working on the later drills I didn't understand how all the pieces fit together. With Terry's new drill sequence the drills naturally work you into a complete swimming stroke. In addition, "Swimming made easy" also includes drills for the backstroke, butterfly, and breast stroke."

  If you want to improve your stroke even faster, I highly recommend the DVD "Freestyle made easy." Being able to see the stroke in action and the resulting propulsion from body rotation makes it much easier to grasp the overall concept. A picture is worth a thousand words in this instance. I purchased the book and dvd at the same time and don't think I would have progressed as fast as I did without the dvd. If you can only buy one thing I would recommned the dvd. You can get a large portion of the conceptual information from the Total Immerssion web site which has segments of the book free for download.

  Now for my story. I'm an aspiring triathlete with my first one scheduled in about 3 months. The open water swim had me a bit concerned. I've always known how to swim but have never swam freestyle more than a few feet. I went to the pool for the first time and proceeded to expend a lot of effort while feeling like I was creeping along with almost no forward momentum. Upon the recommendation of a friend I went the next day and bought this book. That same day I went to the pool and tried the balancing drills and was amazed by the ease with which I could float on the water. Anxious to learn more I ordered the dvd "freestyle made easy" and book "swimming made easy" (I ended up returning the "total immersion" book). I must have watched the dvd at least 3 times the day I got it. I was amazed to see people glide along the water with very little effort. I went to the pool everyday for a week doing 2-3 drills each time and by the end of the week was able to easily swim the triathlon distance of half a mile. I didn't do it in record time by any means but I could do so confidently without any worry of fatigue or drowning (in open water). Because this method teaches you how to let the water support you with almost no effort, whenever you feel like you need an extra couple of breaths you can simply role to your "sweet spot" (roughly on your back) for as long as you need.

  It's been about a month now since starting to learn this method and I've shaved four minutes off my half mile time. My stroke is continuing to get more efficient and I literally feel like I'm cruising with little effort. A couple of days ago I shared a lane with a gentleman who was going about the same speed as me but expending probably more than twice the effort. The drills teach you how to get propulsion from core body rotation rather than the traditional idea of kicking harder and pushing the water back with your hands. In fact, with this method you use your legs very little which is great for triathlets in that they can save their leg strength for the bike and run.

  This method teaches three basic things
  -How to stop struggling against the water and let it support your body.
  -How to streamline your body in the water and reduce drag/resistance.
  -How to use core body rotation as the main method of propulsion rather than your arms and legs.
  
  

• Make sure you get the REVISED & UPDATED version
  By A2KIAFHSB85WQ1 on 2004-10-05
  A lot of people have mentioned that the techniques are obsolete, and that you should get Laughlin's other book, Swimming Made Easy. Not so!
  
  In this revised and updated version, the author has completely revised the drills used -- if I remember right, he said that only two of the original 12 drills are used in the now-14 drills.
  
  Why did I give this book only 4 stars? Let me give you the breakdown:
  
  First, the CONTENT, or the substance of the book: the techniques and drills presented are superb! I don't know if olympic swimmers can actually improve their times using this book, but I know that as a casual swimmer, I have improved a LOT. The techniques are, for me, revolutionary (but maybe not for professional/olympic swimmers, who may already know these techniques). And for that, this book would have gotten 5 stars -- because of the new techniques that one can learn from this book.
  
  Second, however, is the PRESENTATION. For something that shows a lot of techniques, pictures are worth a thousand words. But instead of photos, we only have illustrations (drawings only! and by the author's brother at that!). And the number of illustrations are sparse! I have weightlifting books, stretching books... and they all have PICTURES. I think, especially for a book like this, I would have preferred that there be a SERIES OF PICTURES (a frame by frame thing showing the technique in practice).
  
  Sure, the author tries to explain, but so much verbiage can only go so far -- besides, he would have to use a thousand words to be worth it, as the saying goes. Several pictures would have helped tremendously. Or at the very least, more illustrations.
  
  Again, I highly recommend the book, but as some other reviewer has said, if you can get the DVD Freestyle Made Easy, then that would be fantastic. Personally, even if it does jack up the price a bit, the book and video go HAND in HAND. The author would probably say the book and video complement each other, but I would go further and say that the book and video are INDISPENSABLE from each other, and that they SHOULD be bundled in the first place.
  
  The book fills in all the words that they can't fit in a voiceover of a video, and the video shows the actual techniques in action. If one needs to make a choice, I'd probably get the video first, then fill in all the details (and read all the explanations) in the book. If you can only afford one, I'd say get the video (but really, try to get the book, too).
  
  In this revised and updated version, the drills in the book are the drills used in the Freestyle Made Easy DVD.
  
  So, this book is NOT obsolete, and in fact I think it explains the theories of the Total Immersion way better than Laughlin's Swimming Made Easy. If, however, you want to read on all four strokes, then by all means, get Swimming Made Easy. If it's just freestyle, get this book and the Freestyle Made Easy video.
  
  If the video and book were bundled together, this would have gotten 5 stars. As it is, with the lack of pictures of the book alone: 4 stars. I really wanted to give it 5 stars because it has improved my swimming and the content is great, but a book that teaches technique should have more pictures.
  
  
• Physics makes sense!
  By on 2002-01-24
  This book gives me so much more insight into swimming than any other book I've ever read about it. And the best part is; it makes sense! Mr. Laughlin taught me something someone should have taught me long time before, and he gives a sound, scientific reasoning behind it. For example, why we should swim like a fish (well, isn't it a common sense, but someone have never told me about that before..) on our side instead on our stomach.
  If you are like me, wondering why does the pro swim so effortlessly and with so much speed, this book tells you all about it.
  The drills are easy eoungh to follow without a coach. I get in and out of the pool with minimum fatique and maximum result.
  This is a book for someone, mainly, who knows how to swim already, not a total beginner. Also, Mr. Laughlin deals mostly with freestyle and how to improve your stroke efficiency (i.e. how to swim faster without moving your arms and legs more). I look forward on how he applies his techniques on other swimming strokes.
  
  
• Just buy the DVD instead
  By A3A3KXCM9NR5OJ on 2006-01-08
  This is the first book I've ever read that I can say the movie version was markedly better. Too many pages are expended towards rhetoric praising the TI program, and too few describing the drills. Everywhere else in the book, the language is as clear as crystal, but for the actual drills, it is vague and imprecise. There are generally few illustrations, and none actually show, step-by-step, how the movements are carried out. The whole book seems to have been written, like most training program books, to sell you other products you don't need. A good example is the fistglove: just swim with your fists clenched; you don't need a glove to do that. So, if you really want to know what the TI Program is all about, buy the DVD.
  
  Better yet, if you've never taken adult swim lessons before from a competent, professional swim instructor, save up the money you would spend on these products to take a course or two. Chances are your local college offers solid semester-long courses for a relatively nominal fee that you can take as a special student. Virtually all professional swim coaches these days teach good technique over aggressive arm paddling, but don't have a fancy trademarked name for it. I only experienced marginal improvement because I had excellent instruction over three semesters during university PE classes five years ago.
  
  
• the book and its drills are obsolete
  By on 2004-07-10
  The total immersion website explains why. There is also a review dated May 12, 2003 which indicates the same. Don't buy this book.
  There is a new book (it has new drills).
  
  
• Excellent a must read by any competitive swimmer
  By on 1999-05-03
  I am a masters swimmwer back competing after a 30 year hiatus and I'm finally learning how to swim. By employing the methods presented in this book plus some excellent supplementary coaching I have been able to take off a full 2 seconds on my 50 yd repeats in workout and expend what seems like less effort. That is a two body length improvement through technique improvement alone. I have read may books about swimming technique and this book seems to be the best to date. I am fortunate in having an Olympic Gold Medalist as a masters coach and this book illustrates many of the techniques used in his stroke which he passes on to his swimmers. I use it as a personal clinic before practice to remind me of proper technique and some of the all important drills which I use during warmup
  
  
• Midwest triathlete
  By on 2003-10-29
  While I am a big fan of the Total Immersion technique, the improvements that Laughlin has made in later books renders this version very obsolete. I highly recommend "Triathlon Swimming Made Easy". In TSME, the author starts the drills by floating on the back, not the front. Starting on the front is difficult since the author does not address proper breathing technique until later in the book. Laughlin has an excellent technique, however the drills in TSME are much better than in this book.
  
  
• Misleading "concept"
  By A1MCWUZE75QKWK on 2006-08-14
  This book describes a concept which is not revolutionary at all, lacks a comprehensive concept and good illustrations. The first chapters lead the reader redundantly through the biophysics and biomechanics of swimming bodies and quite extensively, the development of TI. Unfortunately, it sounds more like self-adulation and is excessively descriptive. The impatient reader will skip these chapters, asking himself where the swimming drills are. Thus, coming to real swimming, this book describes a good approach by teaching balance and breaking down a stroke into single sequence drills. However, if the reader does some internet search he will get these drills for free. Additionally, most internet pages provide video-clips. The reader may enjoy the drills up to the point where he is ready for real swimming. And then, the reader has to realize that this concept lacks drills for breathing and flip-turns! In summary, this book does not provide a comprehensive concept of swimming lacking essential techniques and good illustrations. Furthermore, the approach is not revolutionary if you research the "evolution" of modern swimming.
  
  
• What a swimmer with some A times, but nothing better, thinks
  By A1ULA2LPG61GZL on 2002-08-19
  Maybe the book deserves five stars, but I shall be stingy. I am a 16-year old age group swimmer. I specialize in long-distance freestyle and am close to my first AA times in a few events. This book is one of the most important advances in my swimming career. By religiously following every drill in Laughlin's program (including one resembling dead-man's float which was hard on my pride to do in public), I have been able to convert my flat, brute-force freestyle into a more graceful and efficient stroke.
  I began to see results after about two weeks, but so far my sprints have been fairly resistant to change, although I am confident that I can slowly increase the speed where I can use my new stroke. Since I bought this book during the summer, I have had no meets to get new times, but I have noticed that in practice I have swum faster with dramatically less effort. My biceps, triceps, and shoulders are no longer bearing all the burden of swimming and I have learned how to make freestyle swimming's power and rhythm come from the core of the body.
  I can't say how helpful the book would be for more advanced swimmers, but I will recommend it to swimmers with A and AA times who hope to get AA and AAA times, especially to those who have poor rotation in freestyle. Backstrokers may also benefit somewhat if they need to cure poor rotation.
  Finally, I am an assistant coach for my neighborhood's swim team during the summer and I have successfully used the principles of the book to quickly correct many stroke flaws of younger swimmers.
  
  
• the drills from this book are obsolete
  By on 2003-05-12
  I highly recommend this technique, however, I recently participated in a total immersion workshop and the drills have changed! They no longer teach the drills from this book. I was a little disappointed because I just bought the book a couple of months ago.
  
  
• Excellent place to learn how to swim
  By A1Y8B3UK2JF1MJ on 2005-06-01
  I was in training for a triathlon, and began to work on my swimming. I was not getting anywhere, and purchased this book to see if it could help me with my technique.
  
  I read this book, and literally within two sessions at the pool I was being complimented on my swimming. The stroke began to feel effortless. I started to "glide" through the water as opposed to flailing through the pool. It was miraculous.
  
  And I honestly did not even do any of the suggested drills. I simply tried to mentally apply the principles.
  
  I must admit, that for all I know this could be swimming 101 and could be what every high school or college swimmer learns. However, for someone like me, who just swam with no formal instruction, this book is revolutionary.
  
  If you have been swimming and want to start learning to glide, this book is for you. (Just the other day I crossed the pool using only 15 strokes, after each stroke it was like I was just floating through the pool with ease!)
  
  
• Don't buy the book
  By on 2003-06-10
  Hi:

  I bought this book with a lot of hope and was disappointed. The author has repeatedly said in the book that one has to swim like fish but unfortunately I am not a fish! I think the fact is like many things every person is different and has different capabilities of swimming faster and better. For example, the body density could be different and therefore the propensity to float etc. could be different.

  Just because the author has had a chance to see Popov or some other world class swimmer swim for hours is not going to do me any good.

  If you want to swim better, I suggest you buy Richard Pete's videos and not this one. This one is full of fluff. It is a great example of how thousands can be taken for a ride.

  SV
  
  

• It made me slower but eventully it could make some faster
  By on 2006-07-25
  I swim everday for a team and i got this book to try and get faster. this is a good book but i believe it has some faults especailly if your a sprinter. Its advice to use a "non-overt" (2-beat i guess) actually made my legs really weak and i had to build them back up. I was putting to much trust into the fact that you can get better just by modifying the way i swim (nervous system) and i didnt realise the fact that you have to work hard to get anywhere.
  
  The Olympians all swim like this, ian thorpe especaily and phelps, but they have so much core body, leg, and arm strengh that it works for them. Im not saying that it cant work for you, but dont forget you have to work out those muscles too. ive tried counting my strokes to and i got down to swim with about 13 - 14 average during practice (25 yrd), but when your in a meet you have to swim as fast as you can. what im trying to say is that swimming like that worked for me in practice but not in a meet. it actully made me slower in meets b/c all my muscles (especially my legs got weaker).
  
  The book talks about popov trying to hold the stroke count while going faster and faster in practice. i believe that, if you want to do that, then go for it. but, i work as a lifeguard and a lot of people that swim laps where i work have read this book. most of them do a full catch up stroke or almost full. they go slow as beans and they barely kick. then they say all their woried about is staying long in the water. in their case, i believe there actually going backwards, they have forgotten about a lot of stuff thats also important when they swim, the same as i did. dont fall into the same trap.
  
  Some of the concepts in this book i believe work, some i do not. it doesnt matter what which ones i dont believe in but when you try it, just remember that you need those muscles too, and you need the cardio. the muscles will help you with positioning and body roll especially the core muscles. the book Swimming Fastest contradicts a lot of what it says in this book and vice versa. If you want an alternate opinion get that book. Which is right? you pretty much have to decide for yourself what you want to believe in.
  
  
• Could be a pamphlet
  By on 1999-10-22
  The book has 5 or 6 good drills, but to use 286 pages on explaining that if you balance your swimming you will swim better is too much. The book gets boring after a few pages of repeating its self.
  
  
• Hooked on Swimming
  By AM1AIMJ3WHFXR on 2006-02-13
  A nice thing our school does is include an activity fee with our tuition. I'm not speaking in a facetious manner, I actually mean it. For $55 per semester, we get a membership at a gym located a couple blocks from the school. Normal membership costs more than $55 per month so it's a bargain. It is also one of the nicest fitness center I've seen.
  
  Last semester, Kevan (my carpool buddy) and I began going in early to use the gym. They have a wading pool with six lanes and a full length swim pool with eight lanes. After spending a few mornings running on one of the dozens of machines, my knees reminded me how much they detest it so I began spending more time in the pool.
  
  I can swim but it's anything but graceful. In fact, it's much like my skiing. I'm wild enough to jump off any double black diamond slope, and I'll ski it but I do not look pretty in the process. In fact, some people derive a fair bit of entertainment from it. My swimming is similar. I can thrash my way across the pool very quickly, but because my stroke is so inefficient, I cannot sustain it for long.
  
  One morning last October I'm thrashing across the pool, pausing at each end to catch my breath and this little lady in her mid-fifties slips into the lane next to me and begins swimming laps. For an entire hour she swam up and down her lane in graceful fluid motion before sliding out of the pool. That morning Mr. Obvious smacked me along side the head. I really did not know how to swim and it was time to learn.
  
  When I got home I did some research on swimming to find the best swimming manual available. What I found was Total Immersion.
  
  
  
  On October 11, 2005 I purchased the book. It arrived a week later and I read the first dozen chapters and then started the drills. From that moment since, I had swum nothing but TI drills. One hour, twice a week since October.
  
  The Total Immersion drills have been teaching me balance and form. The TI instruction breaks down the process into three basic swim positions in which you must achieve balance; face down, right side, and left side. You do drills swimming in each position until you have achieved balance in all three positions. You also do drills that help you maintain your balance as you shift from one position to the next. I have done these drills so many times now that they are almost second nature.
  
  In addition to balance, other drills teach how to coordinate the appropriate muscle groups together to get the maximum amount of distance from each stroke. I practiced each drill until I could achieve it consistently and then moved on to the next. After five months, I've just made it to the tenth drill. The tenth drill is where all the previous drills start coming together and I feel like I am actually swimming.
  
  When I first began learning to swim the Total Immersion way, I counted the number of strokes it took me to swim the length of the pool as a reference point. The following example is four strokes: left, right, left, right. Basically every time an arm strokes from the extended position it is counted. My thrashing down the lane technique required 26 strokes to get from one end of the pool to the other.
  
  On Thursday of last week, I was practicing Drill #10 and found myself at the other end of the pool in what seemed like only a few strokes. So I counted to see just how many strokes it was requiring. The first lap required only 12 strokes. I couldn't believe it so I did another lap that also required 12 strokes. And then another. I had reduced the number of strokes required to swim the pool from 26 to just 12.
  
  Because my technique is so much more efficient now, I have achieved another milestone that I have not been able to do since I was in grade school. I can swim the length of the pool without taking a breath. I have two more goals to achieve. I used to swim the length of the pool and back. I want that ability back and I need to get my speed back up to my old thrashing speed. Both are coming, and it won't be long.
  
  There is a bunch of folks training for a triathlon in the pool with me each morning. I watch the drills they are being taught with. Yuck. They do give the athletes a good workout but they sure don't teach a person how to become a better swimmer. If you know how to swim, Total Immersion will make you a better swimmer. If you don't know how, it will teach you. I cannot recommend it highly enough.
  
  
• TI is revolutionary. But, it is not easy.
  By A2PEVP36Y5A2EQ on 2007-01-19
  This is a very interesting book. Certain books change the perception one has of a given sport. Timothy Gallwey did it with "The Inner Game of Tennis." Terry Laughlin is doing it with "Total Immersion."
  
  The physics of hydrodynamics discovered by from Froude and Bill Boomer are really compelling as explained in the most interesting chapter (chapter 3). A long boat goes faster than a short one. That's why the America's cup has very tight measurement restrictions. A fish swims faster than a dog. A sailboat cuts through the water more efficiently than a barge. These metaphors suggest you should swim by extending yourself as much as you can (long boat). You should swim in a balanced horizontal position instead of letting your hips and legs drop down and cause much drag (like a fish not like a dog). Finally, you should cut through the water by swimming from one side of your body to the other (tacking like a sailboat not like a barge). This makes perfect sense. I believe it works. I know champions must do that stuff to perfection.
  
  In practice, reviewers have had mixed experiences. Some have leapfrogged their swimming skills to a new level. Others have experienced more frustration with this program.
  
  My firsthand experience is at the low end of the performance scale. Doing the very first drill (pushing the buoy down), I pulled a sour thigh muscle (I had originally pulled biking) as I had to kick so hard to move forward. Doing the second one (the same drill on your back), I was struggling not to swallow water through my nose. Doing the third one (rotating 360 degrees pushing the buoy down throughout), I was now drinking tons of water through my nose. I felt like I needed gills to do that exercise. Maybe it is my physiology (former marathon runner still skinny with low body fat 11.5%). But, these exercises were uncomfortable. This is even though I am not a bad freestyle swimmer already.
  
  I have modified my goals. Instead of doing all these (drowning) sensory drills, I will incorporate as much as I can the related techniques into my swimming. Heck, if I improve my swimming efficiency 20%, I'd be really happy.
  
  The book is too long as some reviewers stated; however, if you stick with it there is a ton of valuable information. The chapter on swimming aids is excellent (most of them are not helpful). Chapter 10 on the physiology of slow swimming is very interesting. You burn more fat by swimming at a moderate pace than swimming harder. Chapter 16 on stretches to prevent shoulder injuries is really important. Some illustrations within this chapter are sorely missing. But, the information is still valuable.
  
  Many have stated the book is out of date. I disagree. It still builds the foundational core knowledge in physics, physiology, and swimming drills and technique to develop an efficient and effortless freestyle stroke. That's probably the objective of 90% of recreational swimmers. Few of us are into improving our butterfly. If you are, I recommend Terry Laughlin's second book: "Swimming Made Easy" that covers all the other strokes. You may also want to check out some of the related DVDs that illustrate the drills including: "Freestyle: Made Easy" and "Happy Laps." It may be helpful to watch how Total Immersion swimming looks.
  
  
  
• For the thinking swimmer
  By A3ISQVX6BZ4B0R on 1997-11-29
  If you are a swimmer and you only read one book, this should be it. The author will make you rethink your swimming. His point is this: swimming is a technical and skill sport and not an endurance sport like running. If you want to improve - work on your technique and not on your endurance. The author explains his ideas and then gives drills to work on your form. He emphasizes "fish swimming", the way your body goes thru the water. The important part of the book is the first part and it should be read more than once. The book only deals with freestyle (although the author told me he is now working on a new book that will deal with the other strokes). I have been doing the drills and I see a real improvement in my swimming.
  
  
• Swimming Philosophy
  By A2TBFC15HOYF7D on 2005-02-05
  This book is more than a guide to swimming. It's a guide to understanding how teach your body swimming as if it were a language. I used it myself and found a pleasure in swimming that I previously had not found, the result has been a quick transition from beginner to intermediate freestyle swimmer. The book is not perfect, it repeats itself (in fact this may be the mantra that makes the book so appealing), also I found the drills difficult to interpret from print. Even so, I found the book everything I needed to make me realise that swimming is an endless search for a beautiful perfection.
  Andy Fallows
  
  
• This is not a magic book
  By A3GYPTK2LHWU8K on 2006-06-15
  I was all pumped up after seeing the good reviews of this book but alas it is a disappointment. I dislike the way the author writes as if his technique is revolutionary - it is not, it is just the right technique. He writes as if swim coaches have been teaching wrong in the past whereas they haven't been. The first 7 chapters or so are all mostly just words; there is useful stuff but most of the matter is like - oh this technique is so revolutionary, people who take our classes cut down their stroke count from 25 to 18 in just a week. I find things like this end up being very demoralizing besides being misleading of course. You read such stuff and you think wow I'll be swimming like a pro in no time and when it doesn't happen you keep wondering why. I was surprised when I found the author gave no special mention of things like you should be able to breathe on both sides which from symmetry is important if you want to have proper technique. Also the illusrations of the drills could be much better - to give an example I browsed following books: Championship swimming, a book by Steve Tarpinian. I would say the illustrations of the drills were much better in them. I could go on but I think this is enough. I am not saying the book is bad but this it is not revolutionary and it won't do magic.
  
  
• Total Immersion
  By A6DDQHOTUCGHQ on 2000-05-11
  This book completely changed the way I swim. It is a bit wordy, but once you understand the concepts and do a few drills you'll see. I breath better and the laps just fly by. It took almost 2 minutes off my 500 meter freestyle time. I hadn't been coached in 20 years and this was perfect. Well worth it. It may even be at your local library.
  
  
• I couldn't swim, now I can!
  By A29B2MG02EB9PI on 2000-04-05
  The book is very detail oriented about the science and technique of the freestyle. That is exactly what I needed. Prior to reading the book, I would sink like an anchor. Now I have my balance in the water and am thoroughly enjoying swimming. I now plan to train for a triathlon using the drills and advice that are in the book. They DO work. My stamina, speed, and, most importantly, my efficiency in the water are greatly improved.
  
  
• Good ideas, not a good writer
  By A36RGX8TFLE7T2 on 2005-09-26
  If the author had spent less time praising his technique and criticizing other forms of exercize, I think that the incredible lessons taught in the book could have been made a lot more powerful. As it is, though, you have to suffer through a lot of unnecessary boastful rhetoric and an equal amount of runner and biker bashing in order to finally get the message.
  
  Read the book, but beware the author.
  
  
• Oh gee, not buying this.
  By A3SF53QL5V4D9T on 2005-02-12
  Well lemme me say I have been swimming since I was 7. I am a teenager of 14 and what he says about injuries is not very much so true. Yes it is very true you use your muscles and joints but you can have an extremely high injury. I have gotten alot of injuries. I have extreme shoulder problems and my neck is horrible. He states that you have a minimal chance of getting injured and if you are you can hop right back in. I would like to inform you all that I was out of the pool for a year. A whole year and I swim for a USA team. You cannot just jump in and do what he says it takes strenght and agility. I love swimming always have yet I know that if I do not do things right I can get hurt. This goes for everyone I swim with. I do very much though think everyone should try it just do not work so hard that you get to be like me. I am young things heal but as I sit here and type I am in pain. But I would not stop swimming for the world.
  
  Thanks a friendly swimmer.
  
  
• Too much selling, not enough info
  By on 2001-05-03
  Laughlin spends almost the entire book trying to convince the reader of why his method is useful and very little actually explaining how to do it. I agree with the reviewer who said it could have been a pamphlet.
  
  

• Tanita BC554 Ironman Glass InnerScan Body Composition Monitor Elite Series

• Freestyle: Made Easy
• The Triathlete's Training Bible (2nd Edition)
• ChiRunning
• Triathlon Swimming Made Easy: The Total Immersion Way for Anyone to Master Open-Water Swimming
• Extraordinary Swimming For Every Body - a Total Immersion instructional book