Breaststroke Technique: Learn the Arm Movements at Home

This breaststroke swimming article explains and demonstrates the arm stroke movements on dry land. By following along, you can practice the arm stroke at home without having to worry about the other aspects of the swim stroke. To get started, watch the following video:

Additional details about the different phases of the arm stroke are given below:

Initial Position

While swimming breaststroke, there’s a short glide phase that is observed at the end of each stroke cycle. To start our discussion, we consider that the initial position of your arms matches the position of your arms during the glide phase. In that glide phase, your arms (and your legs) are fully extended and your body is horizontal and streamlined. So assume the following position:

• Stand upright, with your arms straight and extended overhead.
• Keep your hands close together and your palms facing downwards.

Please note: The arm positions and directions given here and below are relative to your body, as if you were horizontal in the water, swimming breaststroke.

TopSync

Outsweep

The breaststroke swimming stroke cycle begins with the outsweep:

• Your hands separate and your arms move outwards until they are outside the shoulders.
• Your palms should be facing downwards or slightly outwards.

Catch

During the catch, your forearms and palms move into a backwards facing position, ready to apply propulsive force. So do the following:

• Bend you arms at the elbows and move your forearms downwards and backwards.
• Your hands stay in line with your forearms and your shoulders stay close to the water surface.
• The catch phase ends when your forearms and palms are facing backwards, perpendicular to the water surface.

Insweep

The insweep is the propulsive phase of the arm stroke. So do the following:

• Move your forearms backwards and inwards while trying to keep them facing backwards for as long as possible.
• Your elbows automatically move inwards towards the rib cage and your hands move towards each other.
• The insweep ends when your hands are close together below your chest.

Recovery

Your arms move back to their initial position during the recovery:

• Move your arms quickly forward in a straight line until they are completely extended, with your hands close together.
• Your forearms and palms rotate outwards during the recovery until they are again facing downwards at the end of the recovery.

Breathing Technique

Once you have memorized the movements of the arm stroke, you can integrate breathing. Basically, what you need to do is to inhale during the insweep and exhale continuously for the rest of the stroke cycle.

BottomSync

In fact, in breaststroke swimming, your head and shoulders rise above the water surface during the insweep, which allows you to breathe in. Then during the arm recovery forward your head and shoulders drop back into the water and you start to exhale and continue to do so until the next insweep.

Conclusion

Once you have practiced the arm stroke movements at home and internalized them, you can read our follow-up article that shows you how to practice the arm stroke at the pool. Have fun!

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