During breaststroke, my coach tells us that we should look downwards and never to the front, and keep our heads down. However, all the videos I've seen of great Olympic and Worlds breaststrokers such as Hansen and Kitajima look forward when they take their breaths. Even Phelps looks only slightly downwards but mainly forwards when taking a breath. In fact, the women breaststrokers supposedly swimming "like men" are the major swimmers that swim breaststroke with their heads down (Kirk, Hardy...).
So why are the male breaststrokers swimming with their heads up when everyone has told me to keep the head down during breaststroke?
Parents
Former Member
I think the key is keeping your head in line with your spine. As you do your arm stroke, you are pulling yourself up to breath so your head looks like you have lifted it up when actually your spine is just in a different position.
If you can see someone moving the head and arching their neck when the breathe then they are not swimming in proper form.
Try moving/not moving your head when you practice and you will feel the difference. If you keep your head up the whole time and look forward to the end of the pool, you will notice that your arm stroke is causing you to bob and only your kick is pushing you forward.
Then try swimming with your head down and you will feel your arms pulling your forward.
I like to practice the head alignment by putting on some Zoomers and doing a butterfly kick with a breaststroke pull. I have noticed a huge difference in my breaststroke, plus it is really fun.
It feels weird at first, but that's only because you need to teach your brain to make it a habit. Sort of like wearing your watch on your left arm instead of your right (or vice versa). It feels really strange at first, but you get used to it after awhile.
I think the key is keeping your head in line with your spine. As you do your arm stroke, you are pulling yourself up to breath so your head looks like you have lifted it up when actually your spine is just in a different position.
If you can see someone moving the head and arching their neck when the breathe then they are not swimming in proper form.
Try moving/not moving your head when you practice and you will feel the difference. If you keep your head up the whole time and look forward to the end of the pool, you will notice that your arm stroke is causing you to bob and only your kick is pushing you forward.
Then try swimming with your head down and you will feel your arms pulling your forward.
I like to practice the head alignment by putting on some Zoomers and doing a butterfly kick with a breaststroke pull. I have noticed a huge difference in my breaststroke, plus it is really fun.
It feels weird at first, but that's only because you need to teach your brain to make it a habit. Sort of like wearing your watch on your left arm instead of your right (or vice versa). It feels really strange at first, but you get used to it after awhile.
