How To Hold Your Hands When Swimming

Take a quick look at this video loop that a swimmer sent it to us for feedback:



Notice how Travis is holding his hands very loosely - almost limply in fact. Unfortunately when you do this you lose your attachment with the water, seriously damaging your catch. You can also see how it is adding a lot of drag as the water hits the back of his hand and fingers.

When you swim you shouldn't hold your hands limply or cup your hands (as was commonly taught in decades gone by). The best swimmers in the world lightly hold their hands flat like paddles:

2x Australian 10km Champion Rhys Mainstone

Don't do this forcibly or rigidly, the hand should be held flat with a light 'tone' to it - similar to if you were extending your hand to shake someone else's.

Try adding a small bend at the wrist to create a little shape at the front of the stroke as we can see Rhys doing above and Pro Triathlete Guy Crawford doing below. This helps you engage with the water in the right way and press it backwards:



Of course like anything you don't want to over-do it! :


Fingers Together Or Apart?

A very common related question is whether you should hold the fingers together or apart:


For the answer to that, read our full blog post on the subject. The answer might surprise you:

http://www.feelforthewater.com/2013/11/fingers-together-or-apart.html

Of course, to give your catch and propulsion the full Swim Smooth treatment, you need our Catch Masterclass Program, available on DVD and in the Coaching System Webapp.

Swim Smooth!