What a crossover entry is
A crossover entry is when a hand enters the water across the centre line, in front of your head instead of in front of its own shoulder.
It is one of the most common habits in freestyle, and it often shows up more on the breathing side.
Why it costs you
Crossing over pulls the body sideways into a snake shape, so the hips swing and the legs trail out of line.
The pull also starts from a weaker position, with the hand already off its own track.
How to fix it
Enter each hand in line with its own shoulder, as if each arm runs along its own track.
Picture the hands landing at eleven and one on a clock face in front of your head. At first it will feel wide, which usually means it is right.
One drill to try
- Swim slow freestyle over the black line on the pool floor.
- Let each hand enter on its own side of the line, never on top of it.
- Keep the pace easy so you can watch where each hand lands.
How to film it so Llyr can read it
Film this one head-on. Stand your phone on the deck at the end of your lane, facing you, and swim toward it.
From the side, one hand hides behind the other, so a crossover only shows clearly from the front. Llyr shows you how to frame the shot.
Already have a clip? You can import a video you filmed earlier. Read the full filming guide.
What you see in Llyr
When a hand crosses over on stroke after stroke, Llyr names it Crossover entry and shows it on a still from your own video.
Its glyph is a tick from the dashed centre line out to the point that sits off it.
The cue to take into your next set is Enter wide, not across.
Llyr is a second set of eyes, not a coach. Check each correction on the replay, and if your coach sees it differently, go with your coach.