Why don't the swimmers cup their hands while swimming?

Question

i always thought that it was commonly known cupping your hands (rather than having your fingers spread apart) allows one to go faster when swimming...

is it banned or something?

Answer 1

actually cupping your hands decreases the mass of your hand in the water. Your hands are like paddles. You want them to be as large as possible.  

Answer 2

I'm sure with the times they are producing this Olympics they are swimming the way that is the fastest.  Just the science alone that the swim teams work on is amazing.

Answer 3

Doesn't make you go faster.

Cupping your hands will make more water resistance, so it will make you go slower.

Answer 4

no. they dont swim with their fingers spread apart we swim with our hands partly cupped just not like a bowl with our hands. duh.

Answer 5

If you do, you go slower than you normally would. It's easier if you swim like a fish.

Feedback me please =]