Swimming - improving my breast-stroke ?

Question

I'm sort of a new swimmer and I'm wondering how I can speed up my breast stroke. For some reason when I pull in my arms and legs to prepare to shoot out I slow down and I think that's what's making me not go as fast. So what can I do to improve this?

Answer 1

That feeling of slowing down is natural when it comes to breaststroke. There are 2 things that can rlly help you out with it. Work on these and I guarantee you will shave a few seconds off of ur time.

1. Work on ur push off the wall and the pull out. The pull out is something u rlly hav to take advantage of in breaststroke becuz u cannot do it in any other stroke. It also makes plain sense that if u pull out for longer under the water than its less u actually hav to swim. But make sure u don't get to the point of slowing down during the pull out.

2. Work on ur breaststroke kick a lot. Breaststroke is a kick heavy stroke. Its about 80% legs and 20 % arms. With a more powerful kick u can glide longer and ur stroke will improve greatly.

Good luck  

Answer 2

Well its simple, it is normal to slow down considerably at that time for that is when u are preparing to push off.  My advice as a swimmer is to try and cup ur hands and lift ur chest as much out of the water as possible.  then, push off hard and dont glide too long.  

Another tip is to keep ur head strait.  Keep it paralell to ur spine and dont move it. A lot of swimmers make that mistake and bob here heads up and down increasing firction and energy consumtion.  Ur head will lift out of the water if u push hard enough

Answer 3

The BEST thing you can do is to ask your coach to watch you swim and get advice from your coach.

FYI ... you should NEVER cup your hands when you swim.  Your hand and fingers should be flat like a paddle.  You only cup your hands when you are trying to hold water so that it won't drain from your hand due to gravity.  Your fingers may be very slightly spread and your thumb should be close to your hand.

In addition, there are a couple of different styles of breaststroke (one word).  It depends on where your strengths are that will determine which style you should do.  You really shouldn't take recommendations from just anyone ... seek advice and coaching from your coach.