I was taught to "cup" your hands for the freestyle stroke. Someone in the pool mentioned the current school of thought is a relaxed hand. What about *** stroke?
Thanks,
Georgio :bliss:
You want to maximize the surface area of your hands(and forearm)so you do NOT want to cup your hands.Hold them relaxed,fingers slightly apart.Same on breaststroke except you want the fingers together on the recovery and it is easier for me to keep them together for the full stroke,but definitely not cupped.I thought the cupped hand idea went out in about 1960,but I just heard a swim instructor recommending it.
I wear XL gloves and size 14 shoes, so I hope to maximize those features.
The vast majority of the fast swimmers these days also have powerful 6 beat kicks. Use those big feet to propel you down the pool as well.
Thank you. My swim training was all in the '50s & early '60s, so I'm updating both my swimming and instructional methods. I guess "cupped" hands is one of those things that really date someone! My current Water Safety Instructor material does not reference a cupped hand either. I tried relaxing the fingers today and immediately felt more resistance from my hands. I wear XL gloves and size 14 shoes, so I hope to maximize those features.
It will be fun adding one more new thing to think about during practice.
Thanks again,
Georgio :bolt:
If cupping hands worked, then things like boat oars and blades of propellars would all be cup shaped.
Now I do see footage of sprinters where their palms are slightly cupped, but with the fingers still spread out.
It's amazing how hard it is for old habits (or us old swimmers) to die!
I just found Boy Scouts of America Swimming Merit Badge Book, 2002, states, "Keep your fingers together, and slightly cupped."
I'll recommend they update the statement on the next edition.
Thank you all for your valuable contributions.
Georgio
If cupping hands worked, then things like boat oars and blades of propellars would all be cup shaped.
Higher performance kayak paddles are not cupped, but curved out at the tips!
Maybe we can emulate propeller blades with the hands?
Today one swimmer told me he manipulates his thumbs around like rudders to keep him swimming straight! :bow:
Georgio
I thought the cupped hand idea went out in about 1960, but I just heard a swim instructor recommending it.
Unfortunately this is a swim myth that never seems to go completely away. I’ve been coaching masters for over 12-years now and I still get newbie’s who cup there hands. Some of them come up with this idea on there own or there “friend” told them to do it. But regrettably, many tell me that within recent history, a swim instructor or tri coach told them to do it. I’ve even had swimmers argue it with me and nothing less then viewing videos of Michael Phelps underwater will shake them from it.
