I stumbled upon this article. The author says:
"Pull alongside the body, not under: You would never put a paddle in front or under a canoe or kayak. Apply the same principal to swimming. An efficient pull “catches” or “holds” the water to move you forward, with the hand entering and exiting the water at about the same location. The old “S” pull pattern moved water…you want the water to move you!"
This differs from what's commonly suggested how one should pull (most swimmers seem to pull under their bodies). Opinions, comments?
(Edit: the title of this thread should be "Pull under or alongside the body", not 'water'.)
P.S. This article says:
"A six-beat kick requires the swimmer to execute three downward beats during each armstroke.
A two-beat kick requires the swimmer to execute one downward beat during each armstroke."
Well, I thought six-beat kick means each leg kicks DOWN, UP, DOWN, which counts as three beats per leg, rather than "three downward beats" as that article says??? :confused:
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Former Member
I use a body driven stroke.
Picture swimming perfectly over the black line in a pool, arm is held with a natural relaxed bend the entire stroke. Recovery is made almost like a "fly" recovery but a little higher, while the body is rotated to face the recovering side.
Hand enters first followed by the shoulder to drive the body behind the arm and rotate to the other side.
My Hands pulls/holds just within the width of my shoulder or if using the line as a guide the outer edge of it as I look down.
I sometime drill this "painting the stripe" as I call it.
No out or in scull just a natural arm shape.
Sprinting may call for a "shortening of the arm" by bending more to increase turnover--I'm working on this though. I haven't quite figured it out.
So I don't think it's "under" or "outside" it follows a natural path. It works for me.
I use a body driven stroke.
Picture swimming perfectly over the black line in a pool, arm is held with a natural relaxed bend the entire stroke. Recovery is made almost like a "fly" recovery but a little higher, while the body is rotated to face the recovering side.
Hand enters first followed by the shoulder to drive the body behind the arm and rotate to the other side.
My Hands pulls/holds just within the width of my shoulder or if using the line as a guide the outer edge of it as I look down.
I sometime drill this "painting the stripe" as I call it.
No out or in scull just a natural arm shape.
Sprinting may call for a "shortening of the arm" by bending more to increase turnover--I'm working on this though. I haven't quite figured it out.
So I don't think it's "under" or "outside" it follows a natural path. It works for me.
