**Searching for the Magic “W” in Your Breaststroke Kick**

**Dave Salo**

**5 Time Olympic Coach**

**GoSwim Athletes Coached by Dave Salo**

*   Amanda Beard
*   Dave Denniston
*   Staciana Winfield
*   Jessica Hardy
*   Jason Lezak
*   Scott Tucker
*   Eric Shanteau
*   Ricky Berens

The trend in breaststroke is toward a narrow kick.  There’s variation in how far the feet extend outside the body cylinder, but there’s agreement that the knees should be narrow, with the feet extending wider than the knees, and the legs forming a “W” in the water.  This week we discuss how to develop a narrow, powerful kick.

 

**Monday**

**Amanda Beard: Finish Your Kick**

Even though the chapter focuses on how well Amanda finishes her kick, there are plenty of instances that point out how amazing she is at getting into the W style of kick set up we’re looking for in today’s style of great breaststroke.

<https://www.goswim.tv/lessons/527-finish-your-kick>

JUMP TO KATE - 43.09

JUMP TO ZAC - 43.25 - 11560 (compare) - 15050

Video 3 Dave and Staciana

**Tuesday**

**Glenn: Breaststroke Kick Width**

Glenn demonstrates four variations of the breaststroke kick, ending with “knees narrow, feet wide” – the classic “W” shape.  He shows how to use a pull buoy to train knees, narrow, feet wide.

<https://www.goswim.tv/lessons/3267-breaststroke-kick-width>

**Wednesday**

**Davo Drills:  Wall Kick**

By holding your body close to the wall, your knees automatically stay narrow and in line with your shoulders, and the kick happens behind your body, forming the magic “W.”

<https://www.goswim.tv/lessons/183-wall-kick>

**Thursday**

**Glenn: Grab the Heels Kick**

After practicing breaststroke kick with your belly against the wall, try this next: breaststroke kick on your back, grabbing the heels with your hands.

<https://www.goswim.tv/lessons/2925-breaststroke-grab-the-heels-kick>

 

**Friday**

**Drill: Breaststroke Kick on Your Back with Pull Buoy**

From grabbing the heels, progress to not grabbing the heels but recovering the legs BEHIND the body.  Check yourself on the fine points: not stopping and surging and not bobbing up and down.  Think about the legs forming a “W” shape.

<https://www.goswim.tv/lessons/2179-breaststroke-kick-on-back>

**Saturday**

**Haufler Breasatstroke:  The Problem – Knees Too Wide**

Steve Haufler has a huge bag of tricks for correcting a too-wide breaststroke kick.

<https://www.goswim.tv/lessons/1500-the-problem-knees-too-wide>

**Sunday**

**PDF Fins Breaststroke Kick – Annotated**

We love using PDFins to help swimmers reduce resistance in all areas of the breaststroke kick – from the setup to the delivery.  Check out the overhead footage for this swimmer’s narrow knees and wide feet.

<https://www.goswim.tv/lessons/2588-pdf-fins-breaststroke-kick-annotated>


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Jan. 20, 2026 - Magic “W” in Your Breaststroke Kick