How much below the surface of the water is your hand at...?
Former Member
I'm not a great swimmer. I've been swimming for a little over 3 years and very late to the game (late 30's) so I've had a lot of catching up to do. I've made a lot of gains over the three years but I continually find flaws in my technique that I'm looking to improve.
Preface: Excuse my butchering of terminology
I'm wondering at the point when your arm/hand is stretch to the farthest extent (in front of you that is), just before the catch, how many inches below the water is your hand? Is the goal to try to be as close to the surface as possible? I noticed mine, on average, was 5 - 7 inches under the surface and at a slight angle downwards.
Parents
Former Member
I don't think this is so clear cut. The stroke Karlyn is using in that video would be great for distance, but I bet she doesn't swim a 50 that way. Most great sprinters drive their hand down directly into a catch position.
This is what I tell my younger swimmers when we get into differentiating sprint vs. distance strokes. With younger or more inexperienced swimmers we usually just concentrate on the long gliding technique. But a sprint you swim it a little wider and instead of extending fully forward with the stroke before the catch, you dive your hands more down directly into the the pull.
I don't think this is so clear cut. The stroke Karlyn is using in that video would be great for distance, but I bet she doesn't swim a 50 that way. Most great sprinters drive their hand down directly into a catch position.
This is what I tell my younger swimmers when we get into differentiating sprint vs. distance strokes. With younger or more inexperienced swimmers we usually just concentrate on the long gliding technique. But a sprint you swim it a little wider and instead of extending fully forward with the stroke before the catch, you dive your hands more down directly into the the pull.
