How to Swim Straight: The “Sighting” Technique So You Don't Swim Hundreds of Extra Meters in the Lake
You check your watch after the race and see: Distance: 2,150 meters. But the course was supposed to be only 1,900 meters. Where did it go wrong? Did the organizer measure it badly?
No. The mistake is in your navigation. You just swam 250 extra meters. That can cost you several minutes and a lot of energy you’ll be missing on the bike.
As an IRONMAN Certified Coach I see this problem all the time. Athletes spend the whole winter in the pool, following the black line on the bottom. Their body gets used to a perfect straight line. Then they come to a lake, where there is no line, and they start swimming in circles.
The solution is a technique we call sighting.
Why Do You Swim Crooked?
Many people have one arm stronger than the other. If you can’t see the bottom, your stronger arm can start steering you to the side. Without visual control you can drift well off course and not even know it.
In the pool you don’t deal with it. In open water it’s the difference between a personal best and exhaustion.
The “Crocodile” Technique: How to Look Without Stopping
Many beginners make a mistake called “the water polo player.” They lift their whole head high above the water to look around. What happens then? Physics doesn’t let you off. When your head goes up, your legs go down. Your body ends up in a vertical position, you create huge drag and practically stop. Getting going again costs a lot of energy.
Proper sighting looks different:
Only your eyes above the surface: Lift your head only minimally, so that your eyes (like a crocodile’s) just break the surface. Your mouth can stay in the water.
Press down with your hand: At the moment you look, your lead hand (the one extended in the water) has to press downward. That gives you support, so you can rise slightly without your legs sinking.
Breathe only afterward: First look (eyes), then turn your head to the side to breathe. Don’t try to combine them.
The sequence: Stroke -> Look ahead -> Turn your head -> Breathe.
How Often Should You Look?
This is individual, but at Atte ACADEMY I recommend:
In calm water: Every 8 to 10 strokes.
In a crowd or waves: Every 4 to 6 strokes.
It’s better to look more often and make a small correction than to swim “blind” for two minutes and find out you’re heading for the opposite shore.
Train It in the Pool (Yes, You Can)
Don’t wait for summer. You need to make sighting automatic in the pool. Add these drills to your training:
Tarzan: Swim one length with your head up the whole time (it strengthens your neck and traps).
Blind swimmer: Close your eyes, take 10 strokes, then open them. Where did you end up? Did you hit the lane rope? That shows you how strongly you pull to one side. Safety: do this only in a clear, empty lane or with someone watching, and stop right away if you feel disoriented.
A Wetsuit Will Help
If sighting makes your legs drop, a quality wetsuit will hold you up. Thanks to its buoyancy, your legs stay higher even when you lift your head slightly. I write about how to choose the right one in the article how to choose a wetsuit.
Conclusion: The Fastest Swimmer Is the Smartest One
Triathlon swimming isn’t about brute force. It’s about intelligence. Saving 200 meters through good navigation is “free speed.”
Do you feel like you wander around in the lake and then panic? Fear of disorientation is a trigger for panic in open water. Remove the cause and you remove the fear. You’ll find more about swim strategy in the Triathlon Swimming Guide.
