As long as I can remember, every swim instructor and coach has taught me that for freestyle, after recovery, stretch your arm out, hand should enter the water at an angle, with the final stretch (I'm guessing 6" or so) being done beneath the surface. You should always avoid hitting the water flat, where you'd create a large splash.
I started swimming when I was about 4-5 years old, took lessons at a community pool. I started masters in my mid-20s and swam with a variety of teams and many coaches since, including one rather legendary coach, and they all taught the same thing. One coach helped develop paddles for TYR that aid in this.
I was recently told that my hand entry is (in no uncertain terms), "wrong." I should be stretching my arm fully out prior to entry, then slapping the water and beginning my pull.
This goes against everything I've ever been taught.
So is my technique wrong?
Not that I do many, but if I swim freestyle in a meet would I get a DQ?
It was my understanding that one could do nearly anything for freestyle, short of pushing off the bottom or walking. Heck, I could swim doggy paddle or sidestroke if I wanted to (I wouldn't want to throw off meet timing).
I've done many open water swims, including several this year, and I definitely did not receive a DQ. I saw a variety of swim styles, most seemed to swim about the same way that I do.
If this is a matter of style, then that's fine. I see some people doing dolphin kicks for their breaststroke; I won't, and I've never received a DQ for that. I swim mostly just to keep in shape and train for open water swimming. I don't really care too much for speed (of course it is nice to get faster, but it isn't the end all/be all for me).
I would be concerned if I'd hurt myself by doing something wrong.
Appreciate any thoughts.
The one thing that I have never understood is why anyone would think that thrusting your arm forward (reach) underwater is more conducive than doing so above the surface of the water.
I'm no expert, but buoyancy might be one reason. When any part of your body is out of the water, the rest of your body tends to sink a bit. As a somewhat extreme example, kick a length on your back, no board, in a streamlined position. Easy peasy, right? Now, repeat that with your hands pointing at the ceiling/sky, with your hands far enough out of the water that your elbows are at the surface or out of the water. How much more difficult is it to get your feet to the surface?
I'm not about to claim that the difference between hand entry at full extension vs entry six to nine inches further back is going to make a huge difference in buoyancy, but every little bit helps, I suspect. (I'm also not advocating that your hand should enter just after it clears your noggin.)
The one thing that I have never understood is why anyone would think that thrusting your arm forward (reach) underwater is more conducive than doing so above the surface of the water.
I'm no expert, but buoyancy might be one reason. When any part of your body is out of the water, the rest of your body tends to sink a bit. As a somewhat extreme example, kick a length on your back, no board, in a streamlined position. Easy peasy, right? Now, repeat that with your hands pointing at the ceiling/sky, with your hands far enough out of the water that your elbows are at the surface or out of the water. How much more difficult is it to get your feet to the surface?
I'm not about to claim that the difference between hand entry at full extension vs entry six to nine inches further back is going to make a huge difference in buoyancy, but every little bit helps, I suspect. (I'm also not advocating that your hand should enter just after it clears your noggin.)
