© Getty Images

Don't compare yourself to others -

While some elements of technique are common to everyone, they will look different on different people. Just like people run differently due to  having different bodies, swimming is no different. So, don't worry if you don't swim like the person next to you.

© Getty Images

Consistency is key -

Just make a habit of it. Go to the swimming pool on a regular basis. The more frequently you swim, the more you'll improve. It's better to have three or four shorter sessions a week than one or two very long sessions.

© Getty Images

Invest in quality gear -

You don't need much to swim, but good goggles, for instance, can make all the difference. Try a few out to find the right fit.

© Getty Images

Invest in quality gear -

People have different facial features, and what works for your friend or the swimmer you most admire might not work for you.

© Getty Images

Avoid hair conditioner -

Avoid using conditioner or any other hair products that might make your hair slippery. You don't want to stop swimming to adjust your swim cap.

© Getty Images

Stay hydrated -

You might not feel like you're sweating because you're in the water, but it's essential that you keep hydrated when you swim.

© Getty Images

Stay flexible -

Flexibility will help you swim better. Make sure you warm up and do some light stretches before you enter the water.

© Getty Images

Swim in a straight line -

“The straighter you are in the water, the less resistance you’ll create, and the easier it will be to pull your weight through the water,” says Amanda Elizabeth Sawyer, swim coach at New York Health and Racquet Club.

© Getty Images

Blow those bubbles out -

This is an important part of breathing, and you should actually aim to blow bubbles with your mouth. Do so while your head is submerged in water.

© Getty Images

Blow those bubbles out -

Equinox swim coach Ellis Peters gives us a simple cue that we all can use: “Hum underwater as you exhale. The humming is an audio cue—a reminder that you can still exhale more air.”

© Getty Images

Look down -

Another key part of breathing in swimming is to look down. Look at the bottom as you exhale. This will also help you stay in a straight line as you swim.

© Getty Images

Keep your head in the water -

All you need is for your mouth to be out of the water so you can breathe, not your whole face. You should turn your head just enough to do this.

© Getty Images

Keep your head movement to a minimum -

Your head has one job while swimming, and that is to allow you to breathe. Other than that, keep it straight.

© Getty Images

Keep your head movement to a minimum -

Our bodies tend to follow the direction of our heads, so avoiding excessive movement will help you swim in a straight line.

© Getty Images

Focus -

When you're swimming, you can't hear, talk, or look around. So you should be focused on what's important: your breathing and your form.

© Getty Images

Learn to use both your right and left sides -

Becoming ambidextrous in swimming is key to improving your performance. To achieve balance, you should learn how to breathe from both sides, and develop the same level of skill with both arms and legs. You can try single-arm swim drills as an exercise.

© Getty Images

Swim with your hips -

To allow yourself to breathe better and swim faster, your hips should be high in the water. You achieve this by keeping a straight head, looking down, and leaning "slightly forward into the water by pressing down toward the bottom of the pool with your sternum," advises Olympic gold medalist and swim coach Misty Hyman.

© Getty Images

Stretch it out -

"Long arms, long strokes, and long axis rotation should be the focus," says Equinox swim coach Ellis Peters.

© Getty Images

Keep it as long as you can -

Focus on maximizing your stroke length. The longer the stroke, the faster you'll swim and the less energy you'll consume.

© Getty Images

Fingertips first -

You should make sure that the first thing that enters the water with each stroke while swimming crawl, are your fingertips. This will help protect your shoulders from injury.

© Getty Images

Draw an imaginary line -

“Your hands should not cross over the center line of your body at any point during the stroke,” says swim coach Amedeo Pablo Olivares.

© Getty Images

Interval training -

If you want to swim faster, incorporate some sprints into your sessions. Experiment with 10-12 seconds at full speed and take it from there.

© Getty Images

Keep your legs fit -

Your legs consume a lot of oxygen and energy while swimming, so they need to be in shape. Try adding a few kickboard drills while warming up to strengthen your kick power.

© Getty Images

Whip -

This is how you should think of your legs while swimming: as if you were flicking something off your toe.

© Getty Images

Point your toes -

“When you don’t point, your feet and lower body work against the water, slowing you down,” explains swim coach Maria Compos.

© Getty Images

Swim from your hips -

Kicking is not an isolated leg movement: it should come from the hip. Think about kicking from the hip instead of the knees. 

© Getty Images

Work on your turns -

Swim coach Gregory Kincheloe explains how to perfect your turns: “When approaching the wall and beginning the flip turn, attack the turn by extending your legs toward the wall. Don’t wait for them to reach the wall from the flip alone.”

© Getty Images

Hold your breath for the win -

This one goes out more for those who compete, but everyone can try it too. Practice your last push without breathing.

© Getty Images

Hold your breath for the win -

Try to hold your breath for the last five yards (4.5 meters), and give it all you've got!

Sources: (Shape)

See also: In sync! The graceful art of synchronized swimming

© Getty Images