Customer Reviews

Triathlon Swimming Made Easy: The Total Immersion Way for Anyone to Master Open-Water Swimming

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(11)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

After struggling with the swimming leg of triathlons I purchased this book and the accompanying Freestyle Made Easy DVD and committed to trying the Total Immersion approach to swimming. After two months of Total Immersion drills my swimming has improved dramatically. I now swim (literally) twice as fast as I did before starting the program while expending about the same amount of energy. I've never used any training program for any sport that improved my skills any where near as much as the Total Immersion approach improved my swimming.

The book is well written and easy to follow but I found that I also needed the Freestyle Made Easy DVD to fully understand how the drills should be done. Buy them both, they're a bargain at twice the price.

I began swimming a few months ago in preparation for my first triathlon. Although I could run a marathon with energy to spare, I could barely cross the pool once without gasping. After struggling twice a week for a couple of months, a friend told me about Total Immersion.

I went online and read the first three chapters (for free at the Total Immersion website) and saw significant improvement in my swimming effort. I purchased Triathlon Swimming Made Easy, and have not even finished the book yet, but have seen tremendous improvement in my speed and energy output. Last time I got out of the pool, after swimming more than a mile, I felt like I had just taken a stroll around the block. But best of all, my fastest friend at the pool, who began her mile swim at the same time as me, couldn't lap me!

Speed and ease of swimming are the benefits of employing the methods in this book. Read it and get faster while saving your energy for other parts of your triathlon.

This book literally changes the way you think about swimming. We are taught how to swim from an early age, but don't really "think" about it. I went from struggling through two laps to swimming over a thousand yards, and I haven't even finished the book yet. I am training for my first triathlon and was very nervous about the swim. Not anymore.

I think I could have went without this book. The whole book could have been condensed to just a few pages. No great images to help you learn the total immersion way. I definitely feel that the original Total Immersion book is infinitely better BUT the video is the most informative. I find myself watching that video over and over. A picture is worth a thousand words... Dont misunderstand me, Total Immersion Rocks! I have only been swimming for a year ( I am 45) and I can bang out a mile or more no problem in about 30 minutes.

I've been a triathlete for a few years now, and I was looking to improve my weakness--the swim. I had read the original TI book a few years ago, and garnered a few great tips from the general concepts he discusses that helped me improve my swim times dramatically. I purchased this book hoping to refine my technique a little more, and hoping to use the drills more extensively.

The concepts in this book are very clear and easy to grasp, so if you haven't read a TI book before and want to become a better freestyle swimmer, you'll definitely get something out of it.

The trouble I had was with the drill descriptions. I think the book could have used more or better illustrations. Basically, I couldn't really grasp the specifics of the drills without purchasing the TI freestyle swimming DVD. The videos on the DVD are, in my opinion, essential to really understanding the specifics of the drills.

So, I would recommend this book, but only WITH the DVD. Also, I should mention that the DVD is newer than the book, and some of the drills are drastically refined--and therefore, easier to utilize--than what is described in the book. However, the DVD doesn't spend much time at all on the conceptual stuff, so if you're interested in learning WHY you should do all these drills, the book is good at that.

Basically, if you've read any of the TI books in the past, save yourself the time/money and just buy the DVD instead.

I have always been athletic and recently made a new decision to get into triathlons. When I hit the pool I knew immediately my stroke was in desperate need of improvement. This book put into perspective an ideal approach to breaking down the swimming process. I loved the philosophy and practicality of the book so much, I sought out Total Immersion Studio, in New Paltz, NY, and took a private class for the day. Amazing change. I have specific drills to practice and truly enjoy going to the pool with a focus on swimming with a long fluid body rotation and no longer about laps. If no coach is a available, I would recommend the DVD freestyle made easy. Same approach, but in a format that is visual and not intellectual. I'm more than pleased with my purchase.

Total Immersion focuses on a swimming technique that will make you swim easier without struggle. It is an easy read and provides handles to swim better and get more comfortable in the water. The book alone is not enough to learn this technique. You will also need the DVD and perhaps the drill cards for the practices. The book is written in a "can do it" style and is motivating to read with useful information.

As a triathlete & having read (& been a student of) Terry's first book, this book was great extension. The explanations of why each drill is done & step by step instruction virtually guarantees fast improvement anyone prepared to put in practice.

Well worth the purchases price.

This book seemed more self serving than instructional. There were good pieces of information, but they were sandwiched around pages of the author telling you how revolutionary his ideas are and how successful his methods have been. The book could have been cut down significantly by removing this fluff, and it would have made for a better read. Everytime I got to a new chapter, I had to sift through pages of filler before I got to any good material. I mean I already bought the book, he doesn't need to continue selling his ideas to me, I can try them out and decide for myself.

Also, I haven't tried to DVD, but I suspect it would be better because it would be easier to visualize the techniques he writes about.

This book has lots of good info, and will change the way you swim, but it can be really confusing. He seems to say way too much about nothing. Really, just get the video. The book rambles on and on and on, but the video you can just see what you need to do.