The Swim Detective: The Curious Conundrum of the Forgotten Drill

The Swim Detective: The Curious Conundrum of the Forgotten Drill

Last week, the we tackled The Problematic Plateau – exploring why progress sometimes slows and what to do about it.

This week, a new mystery has surfaced on the poolside: The Curious Conundrum of the Forgotten Drill.

You know the type — starting a drill with focus and purpose… then three strokes in, old habits take over, technique drifts, and the drill quietly disappears. Where did it go?

Case #5: The Curious Conundrum of the Forgotten Drill

The swimmer set off with determination, ready to nail the drill. Precision, focus, and purpose were the plan.

But three strokes in… the drill vanished. Where did the drill go?

The Swim Detective rounded up the suspects:

• Impatience – wanting to skip the ‘slow drills’ and get to the ‘real work’. Partly guilty.
• Distractions – lane chatter, mind wandering, missing instructions or demos, or thinking about everything but the drill. Slightly culpable.
• Rushing the set – prioritising speed over technique, trying to get through quickly rather than mastering the movement. Minor accomplice.
• Inconsistent attention – focus drifts mid-drill, thoughts of pace, the next set, or life outside the pool creep in. Stroke quality drops, alignment slips, and the drill loses its effectiveness. Partly culpable.

Impatience, distractions, rushing the set, and inconsistent attention – they all had a hand in the disappearing drill. None are evil, but together, they create the perfect conundrum.

The fix: approach every drill as a mini-investigation. Focus on each stroke, every movement, and stay fully present. Slow it down, be mindful, and embrace the process.

Case cracked. Drill remembered.

Coach’s Corner – Make Drills Stick

• Set a clear intention before each drill: Know why you are doing it, what part of your stroke it’s improving, and how to carry that improvement into your full stroke. Understanding the purpose turns a drill from a task into a tool.
• Slow it down: Mastery comes from deliberate, controlled practice – not just racing through. Don’t race the person in the next lane or obsess over your Garmin. Whizzing through the drill defeats its purpose. Focus on controlled, deliberate strokes so the movement really sticks.
• Stay mindful: Don’t get distracted by others or by holding your place in the lane. Most drills are meant to be done slowly. Stay focused on what you’re doing, not on anyone else.

Further Reading

If you want to read more about drills, including some you could try, we’ve produced this article for you.