90 SPM? Ha. I don't have the strength to pull that fast. I'm probably closer to 50ish. I also don't pull until my other hand 'catches up' from the catch up drill.
Technique won't make my arms pull faster through the water. I'm at the point where strength increases are what will help. Not that my technique is perfect. But it takes an increase in the strength / hydrodynamics ratio to get pull faster through the water. At least that is my take on where I am at.

It took me a few miles of swimming to get comfortable breathing from both sides. But not it is totally natural.
Keeping the head down, chin almost tucked, helps keep the butt and legs up. That, too, feels natural after some time.
I find that my shoulders feel better when I get a good stretch reach in my form. Also not keeping my arm straight as I pull through. When I bend my elbows I can actually feel more muscles engaging. And that reduces strain.

I didn't look at my stroke rate until I saw this thread. I'm averaging 23/minute and up to nearly 30 when I'm going all out. I can't imagine doubling or tripling that as I'm sure my technique (such as it is) would fly apart.

My numbers are from my watch which is pretty accurate at counting the distance so I believe the stroke numbers as well.

Definitely interested in how the TI stuff works out for you, @Robertus -- they do a good job of selling it on their blog and in their videos.

I'm guessing someone is taking that from a Garmin. It should be doubled if so.

I have no idea what my stroke rate is, other than "slow," but I am interested in the 2-beat kick of TI swimming, since my kick is disastrous. My aim is to swim consistently. I'm not focused on speed yet, although I can tell that just like when I started running, I am getting a little faster, and my endurance for faster swimming is increasing. This is all happening at a glacial place, but since my end goal with swimming is to learn good technique and to enjoy it, I think I'm on track. I think I'd need to adjust my breathing if I did 90spm. Right now, I can breathe bilaterally, every other stroke. I'm sure trying to change that would throw off my already pathetic and weak kick and then I'd really lose form. Best not to mess with what I've got going, but I do watch TI clips on the interwebs to remind myself about head positioning, body positioning, etc. because it really helps when I get into the water.

Not been on the forum in a good while.
I would say I'm in the swim smooth camp at the moment.
Most of my life, I've always tried and been taught to get faster by have really long strokes, which is good. But the SPM would also drop way down (which is not so good)!

After getting the swim smooth book and watching the videos, I decided to take the different approach.
Stroke rate they say is very unique to each swimmer and you need to work with your coach to get the optimum stroke rate for you!

I don't have a coach so after getting my music player this year, and fixing the music at a stroke rate, my goal has been to get used to a stroke rate of 67.5 SPM.
I just picked the number because it seems to be optimum with the speeds I would hope to be doing, if the rest of my stroke is right!
I also think my physique is more geared towards a higher stroke rate as I don't have the really wide wingspan and long limbs that would allow me to utilize a much slower stroke rate as effectively!
Before I started on this I checked my stroke rate and it was perhaps in the mid 50s or lower - definitely below 60.

Swim smooth advocate gradual adjusting up of the stroke rate. But me being me, I just set the music at the target rate and boom.
Even an adjustment upward by 5 SPM is significant, so jumping up by 10+ SPM like I did is certainly Not the best way to do it, extremely exhausting, my stroke essentially fell apart, and I've spent most of this year so far getting it back and getting comfortable at this rate.
I'm committed to the 67.5 SPM for the time being, so perhaps it is just now that I feel I'm getting the hang of it, and working to lengthen my strokes at the new rate! I've given it the rest of the year to explore this stroke rate!

So it's fair to say 67.5 SPM Is my new normal and I can sustain 67.5 SPM for at least an hour now (probably longer but not tried), but need to lengthen the stroke as going by the swim smooth chart, my speed is slow for that SPM and needs to head up, which gives me a good target to work towards.

One thing's for sure - you certainly burn a lot more calories at the higher SPM! It's a much less 'relaxing' swim at that level! But if your stroke falls apart, you can end up swimming much slower, if it's not done right!
Sprinters can go up to 90-110 SPM, but that is sustained over a short period!!!
Over a longer distance, it's said the female swimmers tend to generally have a higher SPM then the male swimmers, due to body composition!

The swim smooth book states:
"As an extreme example of how consistent an elite swimmer can be, Shelley Taylor-Smith (seven-time World Marathon Swimming Champion) held 88 SPM (strokes per minute) for a distance of 70 km from Sydney to Wollongong (Australia) only varying by ±5% over this epic 12-hour challenge. Amazing!"

I'm exhausted just thinking about that. 70km is crazy in itself, but with a sustained stroke rate of 88 SPM throughout? I think that certainly requires some genetic gifting from the Creator!

AquaticQuests wrote: »

And it seems the shorter you are, the more you benefit from a higher stroke rate! Females benefit more too!!!

I'm a shorty and my stats would be 63SPM
Swimming speed: 72s/100m, height: 1.64m (5’4 AND A HALF lol”)

I can't say I have ever done a timed SPM. I'm just guessing it is between 50 and 60. Depends of it someone is in the lane next to me

My goal is to get my cruising pace at around 60 SPM (trying to become a marathon swimmer, and that's about standard). The best I've done recently is more like 56.

I started with a kickboard, because when I got to my weak side, I literally didn't roll. It didn't take long though, before I was feeling it. Then I graduated to a pull bouy, which was a huge help! I thought I discovered that secret, lol. I know that my breathing is OK on both sides now, but my body position gets thrown off when I breathe on my weak side--my butt/legs drop, and my left leg forgets to kick. Literally. I think I'm a lopsided swimmer.