We've played with shadows in breaststroke before, but it's never bad to revisit.
Why Do It:
Seeing what you do when you swim is a great way to evalutate what you're doing. When you don't have an underwater camera, check out your shadows. This will teach you to keep your head down during the initial outsweep of the stroke.
How to Do It:
1. Start by getting a nice, clear pool and a sunny day.
2. Push off and start swimming underwater breaststroke.
3. Get close enough to the bottom so that you can see your shadow clearly.
4. Watch your hands as they sweep out into the catch.
5. While watching your shadow, your head will remain down, which is a good option for starting your pull.
How to Do It Really Well (the Fine Points):
On each stroke, your goal is to get into a position with your legs straight and your arms out. To build this into a stroke... swim most of the way under water watching your shadow, then take it up to the surface to get a few regular strokes of breaststroke.
Get the latest from GoSwim!