To avoid confusion, here I'm referring to the high-elbow recovery (above water), not the underwater high-elbow catch and pull. It is often said this is important for saving energy etc., but it seems some elite swimmers don't use that. Opinions and poll taking welcome :)
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The recovery of the arm on freestyle can be bent or straight. The value of a bent arm recovery is indeed speed (fastest / straight line concept). The fact of the matter is that the tempo of the arms must be in sync and because the hand in the water will never be faster than the hand traveling outside the water allows a freestyler the option of a straight arm recovery or bent arm. World record holder Janet Evans and Alan Bernard are great examples of successful straight arm recovery swimmers.
When the hand enters the water incorrectly, air is trapped on tha palm and is counter productive to propulsion. When I watch a swimmer in any stroke and see white (air) during the entry and it's a significant amount, red flags go up and I know it's something I should have them correct. So, if your entry is clean and extended, I'm not focusing on the entry as something that needs corrrecting.
Now, there are many other things I look at when watching a recovery. It's the reaction / opposite reaction concept that coaches key on when looking at recovery and entries.
I hope that answers your question. Good luck, Coach T.
The recovery of the arm on freestyle can be bent or straight. The value of a bent arm recovery is indeed speed (fastest / straight line concept). The fact of the matter is that the tempo of the arms must be in sync and because the hand in the water will never be faster than the hand traveling outside the water allows a freestyler the option of a straight arm recovery or bent arm. World record holder Janet Evans and Alan Bernard are great examples of successful straight arm recovery swimmers.
When the hand enters the water incorrectly, air is trapped on tha palm and is counter productive to propulsion. When I watch a swimmer in any stroke and see white (air) during the entry and it's a significant amount, red flags go up and I know it's something I should have them correct. So, if your entry is clean and extended, I'm not focusing on the entry as something that needs corrrecting.
Now, there are many other things I look at when watching a recovery. It's the reaction / opposite reaction concept that coaches key on when looking at recovery and entries.
I hope that answers your question. Good luck, Coach T.
