Newton's Third Law and Your Swim Stroke

Newton's Third Law states that for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction, and this basic physics principle has a direct impact on your swimming efficiency.

When your hand remains flexed throughout the stroke, you generate an upward force on the water. That upward force causes an equal and opposite reaction: the water presses your body lower into it. The result is increased frontal drag, which hurts your efficiency and reduces your propulsion.

Understanding this simple mechanic is one of the easiest ways to identify a technical flaw that's costing you speed in every stroke you take.

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