Swimming Breast Stroke Tips

Starting a swimming regimen can be a great way to get into shape, but performing the strokes incorrectly can result in poor performance or injury, so use these swimming breaststroke tips to ensure you are getting the most out of your breaststroke. The breaststroke is one of the easiest swimming strokes to perform, and it is often the first or second stroke that new swimmers learn. If you are having trouble learning the breaststroke, or just want to try it for the first time, use these breaststroke tips to help you use the correct form.

1. Start learning the breaststroke using a kickboard. The kickboard will keep you afloat while you practice your kicking. This lets you focus on one aspect of the stroke, and once you master that one, you can move on to the arms.
2. Point your toes out when you make your kick. The correct kicking motion has you bend your knees while keeping your feet together. Then point your toes out and push your legs out, before snapping your knees straight and bringing your legs back together. Once you feel comfortable, remove the kickboard and try kicking without it.
3. Keep your legs underwater during the entire stroke. In the breaststroke, your body is slightly angled so that your feet stay below the surface of the water, while your torso moves up and down.
4. Start your arm stroke when you bring your torso out of the water. Once your torso is out of the water, force your hands forward and keep them together as your torso drops back into the water. Rotate your palms out and pull yourself through the water by bringing your hands to your side.
5. Remember to breathe. Each time you pull your torso up to start the stroke, breathe in. As you complete the rest of the stroke, breathe out. It's easy to forget to breathe each time, or to try and hold you breath until you really need it, but this will starve your body of oxygen and slow you down.