3 Common Freestyle Mistakes That Slow You Down — And How to Fix Them Many swimmers keep practicing freestyle but never get faster or smoother — usually because of these three common mistakes 👇 1️⃣ Not straightening the elbow during the push phase — this weakens your power. 2️⃣ Incorrect catch position — shoulder tilts and high elbow at the start of the pull reduce pressure on the water. 3️⃣ Low elbow recovery — when your elbow is level with your hand, your body loses balance and drag increases.