Pulse Breaststroke is a third drill that helps you focus on the hips. Notice how Dave’s hips flow up and over the surface…and how they are drawn forward during the pull.

Pulse Breaststroke is simply a stroke of breaststroke…followed by a hand-lead pulse of dolphin kick. But notice the hips. As the chest presses in and the hands press out, the hips RISE. As the hands catch and begin to sweep in, the hips pull forward to get ready for the kick. The breaststroke kick sends the hips up and over the surface.

Let’s look at that from the front. Start with a stroke of breaststroke. Then comes the hand-lead pulse of dolphin kick. The chest presses in, the hands press out, the hips rise. The hands catch and sweep in, and the hips pull forward. The breaststroke kick sends the hips up and over the surface.

Watch Dave’s hips again and notice how big the motion is…and how steady he keeps the flow – or rhythm. The chest goes in, the hips come up…and the pull draws everything together. Pulling the hips forward initiates the power phase in breaststroke.

Hips UP…now forward. Hips up…now forward.

Let’s slow that down. The pulse encourages the hips to stay high as the hands go wide. Then, as the hands catch, the hips are pulled forward to set up for the kick.

The pulse sends the hips high as the hands go wide. The hands catch, and the hips are pulled forward into the next kick.