Step #5 is The Breakout into your first stroke.  

**COMMON ERRORS**
Most swimmers want to look up and forward as they rise for the breakout.  This causes massive resistance, and can bring you almost to a stop.

Watch how Dave keeps his eyes down and remains streamlined until he reaches the surface.  This allows him to carry great momentum into his first stroke, which should be compact yet powerful.  For a legal pullout, Dave’s head must break the surface before he starts the insweep of his first stroke.  Is he legal here?  Yes.

**COMMON MISTAKE**
This swimmer went too deep on her pushoff and is now coming up too steeply into her breakout.  This will cause her to lose valuable momentum as she starts to swim.  

Notice how Dave glides straight through the water and then rises at a narrow angle into his breakout and first stroke.  This allows him to swim the shortest distance… and to get maximum power from his first stroke.     


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Step #5 - The Breakout - Dave