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Hi! I'm Mark, creator of Swim Teach

Breaststroke arms: what most swimmers get wrong (and how to fix it)

Published about 2 months ago • 1 min read

Many swimmers pull too hard and still don’t move far. Here’s why - and a simple drill that fixes it.

Hi, Mark here. Hope your week’s been a good one!

Let’s talk breaststroke arms. As swimming teachers, we know it’s the leg kick that delivers the real power. But many swimmers still rely too much on their arms to pull themselves through the water, and that’s where things go wrong.

Quick Breakdown of the Arm Pull Technique​
The breaststroke arm movement can be split into three simple phases:

  • Catch – hands press out and “catch” the water
  • Propulsion – arms sweep to generate movement
  • Recovery – hands return under the chest, ready to glide

👉 Click here for a full breakdown of breaststroke arm technique.​

❌ Are These Common Mistakes Holding You (or Your Pupils) Back?

  1. Relying too much on the arms for propulsion
  2. Pulling too wide with the arms

When swimmers try to “muscle through” with a big arm pull, they break the streamline, create drag, and often slow down. Sound familiar?

✅ Try This Drill:​
Have swimmers walk slowly through shoulder-depth water. Get them to:

  • Pull their arms in small circles
  • Keep their hands in front
  • Pause momentarily in the glide position

It’s a simple fix that makes a big difference in feel and control.

👉 Click for more breaststroke drills to improve the full stroke​

Need Teaching Resources?

If you're planning lessons, I’ve got you covered:

  • Drills
  • Stroke techniques
  • Ready-made lesson plans
  • And more!

​Explore Swimming Teacher Resources →​

That's it for this week. Take care and stay safe.

Happy swimming!

Cheers

Mark

​Swim Teach​

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Hi! I'm Mark, creator of Swim Teach

I've been teaching swimming for over 30 years and I built Swim Teach so that I can share all my knowledge, wisdom and experience from the thousands of swimming lessons I have had the pleasure of teaching. Take a look back through my previous newsletters and see what you missed.

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