With a swimmer that is using a rather straight arm pull, at least to the point where the hand is under the shoulder/the arm is vertical, what sorts of drills or focus points will help them move to/practice more of a high elbow/bent elbow style beyond just explaining/showing them the high elbow pull?
Former Member
i just like to know the top to bottom about all things swimming. since you don't appear to have read it, let me offer you the bullet points:
A) Eamon Sullivan has more of a sidearm swing than a windmill. You said he had a windmill.
B) Andrew is not a big fan of the straight arm recovery, but he will tolerate it so long as it doesn't screw up Eamon's times.
C) It's not good for the shoulder to move like that.
D) It might, but does not necessarily if done correctly, create more drag.
E) It may or may not effect buoyancy.
F) It takes longer to complete the overarm recovery, but, again, he's OK with it so long as it doesn't affect Eamon's timing.
G) The sloppier entry caused by a sidearm approach likely create a detriment that outweighs any benefit offered by such recovery.
I read the article you offered in your edit, and it seems that it helps improve tempo problems in a stroke and encourages proper hip rotation at the right junctures. The article is helpful in understanding why we see it occasionally at the elite levels. Based on the article, I might consider straight-arm recovery as a teaching aid, or a drill, but not a stroke. It still seems to me that a bent-arm recovery could also have proper tempo and hip rotation while at the same time not having any of the drawbacks of straight-arm recovery.
--Sean
There are some world class swimmers with straight-ish arm recoveries, but in a sport as complex as swimming, its difficult to say whether they are world class because of their straight arm recoveries, or despite their straight arm recoveries.
have the swimmer lay face down in the water with their arms pointing to sides of the pool(90 degree angle from the torso, or in the shape of a t). tell them to drop their hands so their hands are beneath their elbows. have them skull? from this position. breathing should be done to the side while the hands continue skulling. it teaches them the feel for having the bent elbow.
otherwise, dryland swimming might help, because you can critique them as they are doing it and make adjustments immediately.
i am just winging it, so don't expect miracle results. just thought i might be able to help.
let me know how things go.
I prefer bent elbow recovery for a few reasons:
more natural motion and less stress on the shoulders
quicker because of the area covered in the amount of time
better torso rotation with bent elbow because it causes you to angle your body much more in order to get your elbow higher. you can have a straight arm recovery directly to the side.
it looks better
