{"id":420932,"date":"2020-03-06T04:00:46","date_gmt":"2020-03-06T11:00:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/?p=420932"},"modified":"2020-04-01T12:14:53","modified_gmt":"2020-04-01T19:14:53","slug":"swimming-world-presents-swimming-technique-concepts-technique-similarities-across-the-four-competitive-strokes-by-rod-havriluk","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/swimming-world-presents-swimming-technique-concepts-technique-similarities-across-the-four-competitive-strokes-by-rod-havriluk\/","title":{"rendered":"Swimming World Presents “Swimming Technique Concepts: Technique Similarities Across The Four Competitive Strokes” By Rod Havriluk"},"content":{"rendered":"

Swimming Technique Concepts: Technique Similarities Across The Four Competitive Strokes<\/span><\/h1>\n

By Rod Havriluk<\/span><\/p>\n

Although there are obvious differences in technique elements across all four competitive strokes, there are many similarities. Knowing about the similarities can help swimmers better understand specific movements and, consequently, make technique improvements more quickly.<\/p>\n

Similarity in elbow flexion<\/span><\/strong>
\nThere are technique elements common to all four strokes. For example, the underwater backward arm motion begins with elbow flexion (Fig. 1). Elbow flexion immediately and demonstrably improves leverage and, consequently, increases propulsion.
\nMany swimmers fail to begin the pull with elbow flexion, resulting in wasted motion and excess shoulder stress. Understanding the similarity in the beginning of the pull across all four strokes may enable a swimmer to master the skill in one stroke and then transfer that ability to another stroke.<\/p>\n

Similarity in elbow flexion to 90 degrees<\/span><\/strong>
\nAs the arms move backward to the shoulders, there is another technique element common to all four strokes. When the arms are in the vertical plane of the shoulders (Fig. 2), the angle at the elbow is 90 degrees for a fraction of a second. Of course, different arm motions in each stroke are necessary to achieve the right angle, but a swimmer might learn to flex the elbow in one stroke and transfer that ability to other strokes. For example, once a swimmer learns to achieve the elbow flexion shown for butterfly, which is fairly common (far right), he or she can use that information to achieve the elbow flexion for freestyle, which is less common (far left).<\/p>\n


\nThe rest of the article continues on to address:<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n