Q&A for How to Swim the Breaststroke

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  • Question
    How do you swim the breaststroke fast?
    Alan Fang
    Former Competitive Swimmer
    Alan Fang swam competitively for over 7 years, through high school and into college. He specialized in breaststroke events, and participated in events such as the Speedo Championship Series, the IHSA (Illinois High School Association) state championships, and Illinois Senior and Age Group state championships.
    Former Competitive Swimmer
    Expert Answer
    The breaststroke is very much a power stroke. It's known as the slowest stroke because you have to focus on minimizing resistance, rather than just moving as fast as you can. The breaststroke is especially good for people who are short and stocky, and if you want to get really good at it, you need to put on a lot of muscle.
  • Question
    So how long should I take to breathe?
    Moolan
    Community Answer
    It should be a quick. Once you feel gravity pulling you down, it's time to end your breath. Don't try to stay up as doing so will make you tired faster.
  • Question
    Does my head need to face down during the stroke, or can I look forward underwater? I am practicing breathing through my nose, but it is hard to do facing the floor of the pool.
    Community Answer
    Yes, your head should face down during the stroke and you can't look forward underwater. You should practice inhaling through your mouth and exhaling through your nose.
  • Question
    Why does my buttocks emerge above the surface of the water when I do breaststroke?
    Community Answer
    Your back end is too close to the surface of the water, you can still swim like this but try to angle it lower for a more powerful kick.
  • Question
    How should I breathe when swimming the breaststroke?
    Community Answer
    Inhale through your mouth, then exhale through your nose to control your breathing and establish a good pace.
  • Question
    Will looking forward while gliding slow me down?
    Community Answer
    Yes. Looking forward will change the way the water flows around you, causing drag. Looking up also makes your body want to sink, which will also change the way you are moving through the water. Looking down allows your body to glide easily.
  • Question
    Should my toes be opened wide or closed?
    Community Answer
    Your time will not make much of a difference, but ideally, you want to have them closed.
  • Question
    Can I kick twice with every stroke like butterfly?
    Community Answer
    Kicking twice will get you automatically disqualified. For every one breath, you get one kick, and one pullout with your arms.
  • Question
    Should I wear goggles?
    Akinara
    Community Answer
    Of course. Goggles protect your eyes and allow you to see in the water.
  • Question
    Do I kick outwards, or just bend and straighten my legs for swimming the breast stroke?
    Community Answer
    You first bend your knees with your ankles pointed out, then kick outwards to propel yourself through the water.
  • Question
    Why do I feel breathless when swimming?
    Community Answer
    Swimming is a very tiring sport so it's normal to feel breathless. If you are feeling VERY breathless, consult a doctor because you might have some breathing difficulties.
  • Question
    Is it natural for my lower back to ache after one/two days of doing the breaststroke?
    Rey Starchaser
    Top Answerer
    If you haven't swam in a while or this is your first time doing the stroke, then probably. You're exercising your muscles in a way you haven't before. If the pain persists for a while, consider taking a break, swim a different stroke, or consult a physician.
  • Question
    Is it normal for your leg muscles to hurt while performing this stroke?
    Community Answer
    Yes.
  • Question
    Should my feet break the surface of the water when I kick while swimming the breast stroke?
    Community Answer
    No, they should be slightly below the surface. However, make sure that you push hard.
  • Question
    Is breast faster than fly?
    Rey Starchaser
    Top Answerer
    Fly (or butterfly) has the fastest peak speed of any of the four basic strokes, so no. Fly is faster than breaststroke.
  • Question
    How do I keep myself from failing when performing the stroke?
    Community Answer
    Create as little drag as possible and don't do anything that counts as a disqualification.
  • Question
    Am I supposed to flex my feet?
    Community Answer
    No. This can give your feet cramps and slow you down.
  • Question
    At what precise point do I kick my legs while doing the breast stroke?
    Moolan
    Community Answer
    Breaststroke follows a four step pattern: pull, breath, kick, glide. You would kick right after your head comes back in the water.
  • Question
    Should your fingers be tight together?
    Tom De Backer
    Top Answerer
    Yes. The idea is to "push off" against the water, to move forward. Open fingers allow water to slip through, reducing the surface with which you push. Closed fingers turn your hands into the largest paddle they can be.
  • Question
    How can I be a fast breastroker?
    Community Answer
    Learn from a teacher. Start doing a swim class. There are videos on YouTube you can watch for tips as well.
  • Question
    Should I keep my arms always submerged in water while swimming?
    Tom De Backer
    Top Answerer
    The answer is complicated, and depends on your technique and preference. We can agree that when your arms go backwards, they should be in the water, obviously, or you're just pushing air. But in the inhaling phase, your head and shoulders do rise out of the water, so your arms might too. When thrusting your arms forward again you want minimal water resistance, because that slows you down. Then again, lifting them up takes energy that is not spent on forward movement, so there's no point. In all, keep them in the water at all times, but during the forward thrust it's OK if they breach the surface.
  • Question
    Not able to lift my head to breath when doing the breaststroke, what do I do?
    Tom De Backer
    Top Answerer
    It is less of a matter of lifting your head, and more a matter of using your speed to direct your entire body upward so your head briefly exits the water and you can breathe. So it's not really popping your head out, it's more coming up to about your shoulders. Practice using a float.
  • Question
    Can I breath with my head turned up to the right side?
    Community Answer
    If you mean the way you breathe when swimming freestyle, then no. But if it's just a slight turn then yes.
  • Question
    Should my hand touch my chest before gliding?
    Community Answer
    For the most power, you will want to go as close to your chest as you can.
  • Question
    If I learn freestyle before breaststroke, is it natural to be better at freestyle?
    Moolan
    Community Answer
    Not exactly. They are two very different strokes. It depends on how comfortable you are with each.
  • Question
    Is it good or bad to do the breast stroke with my head above the water?
    Community Answer
    You want to keep your head down, then bring your head up only to breathe.
  • Question
    What exercises help build up the neck, arms, legs and shoulders?
    Community Answer
    Try push-ups in multiple variations, especially tricep push-ups. Squats and running are great for the legs, also.
  • Question
    After every stroke we take a breath, so at that time should we be slanted?
    Tom De Backer
    Top Answerer
    No. In the breaststroke, your shoulders are always parallel to the water surface. You breathe in not after every stroke, but rather after every other stroke. Breathe in by raising your head and shoulders out of the water.
  • Question
    Why do I pull down while trying to pull out to my sides?
    Grace Yu
    Community Answer
    Pulling downwards will help you scoop more water, and doing so in an orderly fashion will result in a faster stroke. Think of it like pulling ice cream to your mouth and then quickly shooting your arms out afterwards.
  • Question
    When I am coming up to breathe, can my legs be opened?
    Community Answer
    When you come up, your legs should be tucked, but immediately after your head goes down, make a strong streamline position.
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