7/25/03
Finish your stroke

A common secret weakness we all have some of the time is a failure to put effort into finishing the pull. You pull hard to about the stomach, and with then the acceleration of your hand moving back and your body moving forward, it feels like your pull loses its punch. You go with that feeling and let your arm drift back and out into its recovery. It is secret because no one can tell that your effort has gone out of your stroke. You barely notice it yourself unless you pay attention.

When you do this, you are missing the most effective part of the pull – the finish. Studies at the Colorado Olympic training tank show that the finish of the freestyle stroke is where the pull is most efficient in generating forward propulsion from pulling force.

Today, think about keeping your hold on the water and pushing back even after your pull has passed your chest. To do this, break up your pull mentally into front half up to your chest, and back half from your stomach down. Use a mantra to help remind you to finish your stroke: Pull / Push, Pull / Push