Backstroke - Basics with Steve Haufler

**Additional Drills for Teaching Bent-Arm Pull
Vertical Double-Arm Backstroke**

For swimmers who need extra help in learning or perfecting their pull, I use several drills that are extremely effective.

I use Vertical Double-Arm Backstroke when the swimmer already does a correct freestyle pull.  I ask the swimmer to go to deep water and do a “double-arm vertical freestyle pull.” 

The swimmer can see how their elbows stay high and the forearms press down until they are in line with the elbows.

The palms face down as she pushes the hands through.

Now, she does the same type of pull but points the hands toward the walls. 

I demonstrate.

After she does that correctly a few times, she leans back and, while the muscle memory is still fresh, does double-arm backstroke.

Then single-arm backstroke…then full-stroke backstroke.


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Vertical Double-Arm Backstroke