How To Swim Freestyle

The freestyle stroke is the fastest and most efficient swim stroke so to be considered a good swimmer, you must know how to swim freestyle. The freestyle stroke can be either the front crawl or the sidestroke in competition, but typically refers to the front crawl as the crawl stroke is the fastest. Learning how to swim freestyle is an important part of every swimmer's development. This article will focus on the front crawl freestyle stroke.

1. Face in the water: One common mistake beginners make when learning how to swim freestyle is lifting their head to breath or sight. Keeping your face in the water as you swim freestyle will prevent your body from sinking and allow your body to plane.
2. Reach and Pull: Try to imagine a line running down the center of your body. Your body should pivot along this line with each stroke. Reach your arm as far as possible towards an imaginary center point in front of your head. Pull back your arm along the side of your body. Your hand should almost be able to reach your knee at the end of your stroke. Keep your arm low on the recovery. One arm should reach forward as the other recovers. Your arms should move in a windmill-like motion. Cup your hands slightly to form a paddle.
3. Kick: You should not be making huge splashes when you kick. Freestyle stroke kicking serves the dual purpose of maintaining flotation for trim and providing a bit of extra propulsion. Keep your legs semi rigid and kick in a constant motion.
4. Breathe: To breathe, roll your head slightly to one side as your arm is out of the water. If you are pivoting correctly along the imaginary line, you should not have to roll your head too much to pivot.
5. Timing: If you combine all of these elements, you will be swimming the freestyle stroke. You need a bit of timing and coordination to properly swim freestyle, so make sure that you're breathing during your recovery, you're kicking at all times, and always remember to keep your face in the water.