Hand movements during freestyle and fly strokes

Hello all, I used to be a competitive swimmer and received extensive technique trainings with my stokes. From what I remember, during a stroke, while reaching just before touching the water, hands will go in the water like a knife (turned inwards ) insead of going flat smashing the water without causing any shock between water and hands (like slapping water). From what I have been watching, Michael Phelps is using a hand movement which is really flat and just reaching out , making a pull in both strokes. Is there anyone who can tell me which is better and should I change my technique in my hands? Thanks I share your experience and your recognition that times have changed. I swam through college, ending in '89, and remember the slicing/knife entry you describe. As I've come back to Masters' swimming and worked on technique, there are a number of technique items that I find have changed. I don't think, though, that all of the changes have equal impact. For example, "old school" head position had you looking forward, while the new concept is for you to be looking down with your head in a neutral position. That has a HUGE impact on your body position. On hand entry, I agree that a flat entry makes more sense because then you don't need to rotate your hand underwater into a flat position for your pull. It simplifies your stroke and makes it more efficient. However, I don't think it's going to be dramatically slower for you to continue with the old school knife entry, provided you are then rotating your hand into the proper position to start your pull. With that said, if you can and depending upon what your goals are, I'd recommend watching the "pros" and reading/learning about technique today and then trying to rebuild your stroke with those "new concepts." While there certainly has been a lot of wind blown about the advantages provided by the tech suits, I think the technique changes and training advances over the last couple of decades have had a far bigger impact on speed.

Hello all, I used to be a competitive swimmer and received extensive technique trainings with my stokes. From what I remember, during a stroke, while reaching just before touching the water, hands will go in the water like a knife (turned inwards ) insead of going flat smashing the water without causing any shock between water and hands (like slapping water). From what I have been watching, Michael Phelps is using a hand movement which is really flat and just reaching out , making a pull in both strokes. Is there anyone who can tell me which is better and should I change my technique in my hands? Thanks I share your experience and your recognition that times have changed. I swam through college, ending in '89, and remember the slicing/knife entry you describe. As I've come back to Masters' swimming and worked on technique, there are a number of technique items that I find have changed. I don't think, though, that all of the changes have equal impact. For example, "old school" head position had you looking forward, while the new concept is for you to be looking down with your head in a neutral position. That has a HUGE impact on your body position. On hand entry, I agree that a flat entry makes more sense because then you don't need to rotate your hand underwater into a flat position for your pull. It simplifies your stroke and makes it more efficient. However, I don't think it's going to be dramatically slower for you to continue with the old school knife entry, provided you are then rotating your hand into the proper position to start your pull. With that said, if you can and depending upon what your goals are, I'd recommend watching the "pros" and reading/learning about technique today and then trying to rebuild your stroke with those "new concepts." While there certainly has been a lot of wind blown about the advantages provided by the tech suits, I think the technique changes and training advances over the last couple of decades have had a far bigger impact on speed.