When swimming freestyle, is it more efficient to pull deep in the water ? It seems that the more of a roll I achieve the deeper the hand /forearm are for pulling. In other words is a deeper pull faster or not?
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Former Member
Gulf coast's example is relevent but it not doesn't really illustrate how this works underwater.
The problem with a deep pull is that the first portion of your pull (as you reach deep) is not pushing water backwards - it is pushing it down instead, which is not propulsive. Pushing water down tends to try to lift your body, which is also not propulsive.
This is the basic point of the high elbow underwater - it keeps your hands not too far from your body and more of your pull is dedicated to pushing water backwards, causing your body to move forward.
I saw a video of Grant Hackett's underwater and it is astounding how much of his pull translates directly to propulsion. It looks as if he is pulling on cables suspended under his body.
Gulf coast's example is relevent but it not doesn't really illustrate how this works underwater.
The problem with a deep pull is that the first portion of your pull (as you reach deep) is not pushing water backwards - it is pushing it down instead, which is not propulsive. Pushing water down tends to try to lift your body, which is also not propulsive.
This is the basic point of the high elbow underwater - it keeps your hands not too far from your body and more of your pull is dedicated to pushing water backwards, causing your body to move forward.
I saw a video of Grant Hackett's underwater and it is astounding how much of his pull translates directly to propulsion. It looks as if he is pulling on cables suspended under his body.
