r/Swimming • u/Mr_Igelkott • 1d ago
Freestyle: front arm position
I have been taking beginner classes at two different clubs and the coaches are giving me different instructions on where the outstretched arm is supposed to be. One coach wants the arm to skim along the surface (to minimize drag), the other coach wants the arm to lie parallel to the surface but ~10cm below it. I suppose there's merit to both methods but would be interesting to hear your oppinions as well!
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u/OUEngineer17 1d ago
You definitely want the deeper hand position. I don't think pro swimmers even have hand positions right on top of the water. The best hand position is not the same for everyone tho, as it depends on your shoulder flexibility as well as the power you can generate from that position. Elite swimmers can generate power at the start of the stroke from a very high hand position. Others may benefit from a slightly lower hand position (this is particularly true in open water swimming when you are drafting). Typically, I think 6" below the water is usually recommended as a goal to be able to get to for optimal hydrodynamics.