Amanda Beard comes up very high on the water. Almost like shes leaning on her elbows/forearms on the suface of the water. How high in general should you come up? I have always been taught to stay fairly close the to the surface. I can see how it would give her more propulsion when she is under the water and finishes her kick, but doesnt it interrupt the stroke? it would seem to make it more "stop and go" instead of a fluid movement.
I'd say the short answer is anything that is not contributing to your forward momentum should be avoided. Obviously this means different things depending on the kind of breaststroke you use. If you use more of a traditional style your head should only come out high enough to allow you to breathe, if you use more of a "wave" style you should come out higher because the wave effect is part of the propulsion of the stroke. The "too high" point is when the up-and-down motion is no longer contributing to your forward motion.
I'd say the short answer is anything that is not contributing to your forward momentum should be avoided. Obviously this means different things depending on the kind of breaststroke you use. If you use more of a traditional style your head should only come out high enough to allow you to breathe, if you use more of a "wave" style you should come out higher because the wave effect is part of the propulsion of the stroke. The "too high" point is when the up-and-down motion is no longer contributing to your forward motion.
