Streamline
A good streamline is necessary for swimmers aiming to improve their time and their form. It is used in every stroke, every time the swimmer pushes off the wall. Many swimmers think "Nah, I don't have to do that." or, "It doesn't matter that much!" These thoughts are wrong; a streamline can increase your time and is an effective and useful skill while learning or improving your swimming. According to Swimright23.webs.com, streamline is "a teardrop contour line that offers the least possible resistance to a current of air, water, etc." Swimright23.webs.com also states that streamlining while in competition is "the best hydrodynamic position to make when going through the water." and streamline's goal is "to cut through the water and offer...the least resistance to the fluid's flow."
Steps:
Steps:
- Raise your arms above your head and place one hand on top of the other.
- Squeeze your head between your elbows.
- Straighten your feet.
- Keep your legs together.
- Keep your head down.
- Remain in this position for as long as possible.
- While swimming backstroke, freestyle, or butterfly, it is permissible to do a butterfly undulating kick while under the water only. As soon as you reach the surface, you must immediately stop your butterfly kick and begin your stroke.
- While swimming breaststroke, you are allowed to do a pullout. (See below)
Works Consulted
"Streamline." The Physics and Biomechanics of Swimming. Web. 14 Oct. 2014. <http://swimright23.webs.com/streamline.htm>.