How to Swim With My Elbows Up

Swimming with your elbows down, a phenomenon known in the world of water sports as the “dropped elbow,” slows down your breaststroke and keeps you from being the best swimmer you can be. If you suffer from this problem, perform your breaststroke as you normally do. Focus your attention on your elbow and exactly how you move your arm as you swim. When you notice your elbow and upper arm dropping as you pull through the water, this is the dreaded dropped elbow. Learning to keep your elbows up, also known as maintaining high elbows, is a sure-fire method to improve your speed and breaststroke quality.

Instructions

    • 1

      Move your arm out in front of you, as if you were beginning a breaststroke. You can practice this technique in or out of the water, but it may be ideal to practice it while stationary before swimming. Your arm should be approximately parallel to the ground.

    • 2

      Push down with your palm while keeping your upper arm parallel with the ground. If you drop your elbow while swimming, this may feel uncomfortable at first.

    • 3

      Follow through with your arm to complete the full stroke, and lift your arm up to repeat the stroke. While doing so, keep your elbow as high as possible for easier range of movement and speed.

    • 4

      Practice using this technique while swimming. It may take some conscious effort at first, but the more you practice keeping your elbows up, the easier it gets.