Stroke count

Here's a better example: www.youtube.com/watch From in front it looks like he's extending out as far as possible, but I think you'll see what I mean on the side view starting around 1:10. Yes, he reaches out in front, but he also drives his hand right down to the catch position, maybe 12" or so under water, immediately. What I envisioned when I heard "arms attached to the core" was a person swinging their arms wildly, constantly bent, finishing while hitting their body underwater, or not turning their shoulders at all No, not what I had in mind at all. Here's an example of what I'm thinking. Try to reach your arm out over your head as far as possible. If you think about starting a pull from this position, you can feel you don't have much leverage. However, if you relax your arm slightly you can feel the core muscles along your sides engage and you have much more leverage.

Here's a better example: www.youtube.com/watch From in front it looks like he's extending out as far as possible, but I think you'll see what I mean on the side view starting around 1:10. Yes, he reaches out in front, but he also drives his hand right down to the catch position, maybe 12" or so under water, immediately. What I envisioned when I heard "arms attached to the core" was a person swinging their arms wildly, constantly bent, finishing while hitting their body underwater, or not turning their shoulders at all No, not what I had in mind at all. Here's an example of what I'm thinking. Try to reach your arm out over your head as far as possible. If you think about starting a pull from this position, you can feel you don't have much leverage. However, if you relax your arm slightly you can feel the core muscles along your sides engage and you have much more leverage.