This is a more advanced stroke and will take time and patience to master. Commonly referred to as the ‘frog stroke,’ breaststroke demands proper timing to achieve the best results. If you’re willing to make the commitment, we believe you can do it!
Body Position
Your body will dip up and down with no side-to-side rotation as you flow forward through the water. Think of yourself coiling and then exploding forward repeatedly as you gain speed — just like a frog!
The Pull
Begin with arms facing straight ahead and turn your palms outward. Then, sweep your entire arms outward with a slight bend of the elbows until they reach near your armpits. At this point, you will bring your hands back together and thrust them forward as you complete your kick. Imagine your hands together as an arrow speeding forward, propelled faster by the snap at the end of your kick.
The Kick
You will start the stroke parallel in the water. Now, bend your knees with the base of your feet finishing just below the water’s surface. At this point you will open the legs wide and then snap them back together to create the proper thrust and power you need to glide through the water. This is referred to as the "frog kick" or "whip kick." Think of your legs as the engine that drives your body. They’ll do the heavy lifting for your breaststroke.
Breathe!
The Breaststroke offers you the opportunity to breath easily and naturally when your head is raised above the water during your outward pull. Then, re-enter the water with your head as you thrust forward and finish the snap of your kick.
Practice!
The breaststroke may take some time to master. You may want to isolate the kick and pull and work on them separately. Once you have them both down, put them together and go!
