Lift the Hand in Low Octane Freestyle #theraceclub

When using a low octane recovery we teach our swimmers to draw the elbow up above the head and lift the hand as it moves forward. We want the swimmer to lift the hand for as long as possible until they can't reach any further. This prevents drag forces from the hand being in the water as it moves forward. Many coaches teach swimmers to enter the water with the fingertips down however we believe it is faster to keep the hand above water so that the palm and forearm enter simultaneously. Check out our video subscription for more tips and articles to help you swim faster!

In our low octane recovery technique, we instruct swimmers to elevate their elbows above their heads and lift their hand as it moves forward. The goal is to keep the hands raised as long as possible until they can’t stretch any further. This minimizes drag from the hand entering the water and increasing rotation in the shoulders. While many coaches teach entering the water with fingers pointing down, we believe it's faster for the palm and forearm to enter together, keeping the hand above the water. Explore our video subscription for additional tips and articles to enhance your swimming speed!