**Freestyle Bent-Arm Recovery**

Most swimmers use a bent-arm recovery in freestyle. This week we look at the fine points: how to teach it; how, when, and why to use it; and how to modify it for speed and open water.

**Monday**

<https://www.goswim.tv/lessons/1792-advanced-freestyle-swim-lesson-3-arm-recovery-and-hand-entry>

:26 - low recovery for slower swim

:30 - straight arm for fast

:50 - initial teaching is big arms

1:16 - hands need to be able to enter flat

1:24 - practice while standing in shallow water

1:39 - position 11 freestyle

2:15 - watch for hand entry - aim for flat

2:33 - thumb leads into recovery

2:36 - manipulation of arm movement

2:54 - on deck practice

3:03 - stationary scooter drill

3:11 - pulling in a straight line

3:13 - recovering with a bent elbow

3:29 - in water scooter drill

3:42 - without paddles

**Tuesday**

<https://www.goswim.tv/lessons/3040-fingertip-drag>

From beginning - watch the fingers on the surface

:12 - watch the drag lines

:25 - watch the drag lines

:31 - arm extends forward

:40 - drag lines should be straight

:52 - low hand - high elbow

Watch until the end

**Wednesday**

<https://www.goswim.tv/lessons/1809-haufler-top-freestyle-drill-4-sailboat>

:04 - first pause in recovery position

:08 - kick in side balance position with paused recovery

:21 - static position rehearsing recovery and entry

:26 - look at the low breath

:40 - look at the balanced line

Great switch timing for the rest of the lap

**Thursday**

<https://www.goswim.tv/lessons/1135-smooth-freestyle-head-position>

:04 - early elbow bend

:10 - balanced breath

:16 - low recovery - head turned slightly further but in line

:40 - low recovery - simple head turn - lead hand extended

Continue watching until the end

**Friday**

<https://www.goswim.tv/lessons/1684-freestyle-above-side-slow-motion>

:01 - bent arm recovery

:08 - early breath - arm extended - recovery just beginning

:13 - great connection with pulling arm and recovering arm

:22 - relaxed wrist

:29 - relaxed wrist - low breath - lead hand extended

:56 - relaxed low recovery

1:03 - open mouth breath

**Saturday**

<https://www.goswim.tv/lessons/97-freestyle-full-body-above-water>

:05 - low recovery at a higher tempo

:08 - low and forward attack

:18 - low breath low recover lead arm pulling

:20 - look at the timing of the pulling arm and recovering arm

:22 - see the small sway in Roberts right hand setting the catch

**Sunday**

<https://www.goswim.tv/lessons/1786-martin-liivamagi-freestyle-above-water>

From beginning - low relaxed arm

:08 - low rotated head for breath

:16 - starts to open up the recovery a bit

:29 - starting to increase rate - arm gets straighter

:33 - initiation of recovery larger

:42 - hand still getting ready to pierce the water

:50 - relaxed wrist into the recovery

1:03 - full arm entering at the same time - fingers SLIGHTLY ahead

1:07 - same as above - fingers slightly ahead

1:15 - head sinking after breath

**Bonus**

Karlyn Pipes Free: BONUS – Arm Recovery

Karlyn’s recovery is somewhere between straight arm and bent arm. 

<https://www.goswim.tv/lessons/391-bonus-arm-recovery>

Freestyle Drills: Stun Gun

<https://www.goswim.tv/lessons/1059-freestyle-stun-gun>

Fran Crippen: Freestyle Technique – Stay Long, Smooth, and Efficient

<https://www.goswim.tv/lessons/129-freestyle-technique>

Jason Lezak: Breathing and Recovery

<https://www.goswim.tv/lessons/976-breathing-and-recovery>


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Dec. 6, 2022 - Bent-Arm Freestyle Recovery