https://community.usms.org/swimming/f/general/12734/technique-advice-video-insideHey all, I took off about 5 years from swimming and resumed around 5 months ago. I got the itch to train for a meet and took part in one this past weekend. I didn&#39;t really have any expectations going in, just wanted to get back into swimming meets againen-USTelligent Community 12https://community.usms.org/thread/201048?ContentTypeID=1Tue, 07 Mar 2017 12:36:43 GMT3187ac58-ba85-4314-b79a-c45cd885e09a:cf212174-93fd-426f-8d25-8400186e40f7Elaine KrugmanHi, Swim! Welcome back! :welcome: The videos were shot from too far away to really tell much. Can you get somebody to video your strokes again, so we can get a better look. See if you can get something more like this: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KcPlIjHIAOk">www.youtube.com/watch</a><div style="clear:both;"></div>https://community.usms.org/thread/201070?ContentTypeID=1Tue, 07 Mar 2017 01:50:24 GMT3187ac58-ba85-4314-b79a-c45cd885e09a:6317ec3d-a052-4934-b736-eaffc4e43c6fElaine KrugmanI don&#39;t consider myself much of an expert. But I will say that your freestyle certainly sets you apart from the others. I don&#39;t see any elbow bend whatsoever. In fact, initially I thought it was a backstroke event until I looked at the swimmers in other lanes. I understand that a straight arm recovery can work for some swimmers...particularly in sprints. Nevertheless it just looks unusual to me. But if a straight arm recovery works for some...it makes me wonder why so many coaches push the high elbow finger tip drag drill so much. Dan Perhaps you answered your own question: &quot;...a straight arm recovery works for some.&quot; Not everybody has such loose shoulders as Janet Evans. For many (especially Masters swimmers), a straight arm recovery would eventually cause repetitive stress injuries. I avoid it like the plague. :afraid:<div style="clear:both;"></div>https://community.usms.org/thread/201063?ContentTypeID=1Tue, 07 Mar 2017 01:00:57 GMT3187ac58-ba85-4314-b79a-c45cd885e09a:56789b2a-acf2-48d9-a8f4-58c5c8652ff5ForceDJI don&#39;t consider myself much of an expert. But I will say that your freestyle certainly sets you apart from the others. I don&#39;t see any elbow bend whatsoever. In fact, initially I thought it was a backstroke event until I looked at the swimmers in other lanes. I understand that a straight arm recovery can work for some swimmers...particularly in sprints. Nevertheless it just looks unusual to me. But if a straight arm recovery works for some...it makes me wonder why so many coaches push the high elbow finger tip drag drill so much. Dan<div style="clear:both;"></div>