The sportsworld is filled with stories of people winning by 1/100th of a second, or losing by 1/100th of a second.  While a race can be swum perfectly, it's not over 'til it's over.

**Why do it:**
Finishing with a plan helps you make sure you don't throw away a victory, or miss that goal time by the slightest of margins.

**How to do it:**
**1)**  The goal of the freestyle finish is to have your hand hit directly in front of your shoulder.
**2)**  The body should be rotated with the shoulder and arm reached out as far as possible.
**3)**  Make sure the PAD is hit, and not the edge or gutter.

**How to do it really well (the fine points):**
Start counting from the flags like you do on backstroke.  Know how many strokes you typically take, and start planning for the reach sooner.  Stop looking up and focusing on the end.  Instead, try to focus lower on the wall to keep your head in line to avoid even the smallest bit of extra resistance.

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Freestyle - The Finish