total immersion
 

Anyone ever heard of or tried this program? http://www.totalimmersion.net/

Read the book, haven't done the clinic.

Do a search on Total Immersion through the Trathlon forum and it will return two pages of topics where this has been raised...

Yes. I had been swimming for fitness for years. When I decided to try triathlons 3 years ago I tried TI. I read the book and got the DVD. I stopped swimming completely and started doing the drills. My form is much much improved. I have shaved 6 minutes off my 1500yard time and now average 15 strokes per length vs. 23 SPL prior to TI. I am a believer. Fantastic.

Read the book and watched the DVD. Ask me again in a month after I try it out.

-D

heard of it, havent tried it.

I have the book, it has helped alot. I usually do 300's and I have cut 30 seconds off by doing drills

get the DVD, follow the drills...i did improved my strokes

took the weekend workshop a few weeks back ... lots of drills.
they pretty much take you thru all of them that are in the book and on the DVD.

everyone starts at the same level regardless of experience level. It is very helpfull so long as you continue to practice the techniques they teach. Its very tempting to go back to old, bad, habits.
cost ~$500 ... kind of steep.

hit me back if you want / need more info.

Got the book, sorta do some of the drills, ish. The principles seem sound but I can't resist just cavemanning up and down a bit :)

I joined a masters swim team that uses this. I don't really have too much to compare it too since before I joined I was training on my own. The one thing I will say is that once I started to get the hang of it, everything got 10000 times smoother and swimming wasn't so much of a laborious task anymore. If you do decide to get the videos, it'd probably be a good idea to watch them with a training partner and have them tell you if you're doing it right. Good luck!

interesting, it sounds like the main point of all their teaching is to relax in the water, learn shoulder rotation, and longer smooth strokes

I haven't dealt w/ Total Immersion ever, but I did attend Stanford Swim Camp twice in which they were teaching the same techniques. I can tell you this........it works. Although it might be cheaper/more beneficial if you can find a local coach that understands the stroke technique w/ TI and then you will get feedback. I will tell you from experience that you might feel like you are doing something right in the water, and you are doing something completely wrong. Having an eye over you is invaluable. Take care!