How to Swim Freestyle

How does freestyle move?

• The face-down swimming position allows for a good range of motion of the arm in the water
• The above-water recovery of the stroke reduces drag
• The alternating arms also allows some rolling movement of the body for an easier recovery
• The alternating arm stroke makes for a relatively constant speed throughout the cycle.

Freestyle swimming is basically circling your arms forward in alternation, and kicking your feet up and down, about a foot apart (flutter kick).

Make sure your head is down before you pull! (as shown above)

Above is a video I have uploaded for you, with the help of my mentor Coach Joe Lileikis. It demonstrates one of many freestyle drills called catch-up drill. This drill helps you work on body alignment - long and horizontal, from the arm, down through the shoulder and side, all the way to your feet. Catch-up also helps with the timing of breath, delaying the start of the pull until the body is in a good position.

Another freestyle drill is the fingertip drag. As your arm comes out of the water on the recovery, drag the tip of your fingers on the surface of the water, along the side of your body, from your hip to your armpit, before reaching forward and starting the next pull.  For me, I also use this drill to help keep my elbows high.

If you want to focus on only one side of your body, use one arm swimming.

These three drills are the main drills I would use to help my freestyle technique.