FINISHES TECHNIQUE

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Finishes Technique Basics

What’s the point in swimming strong all the way to the end and then lose because of a lousy finish?

You can lose 10ths of seconds in races that are sometimes decided by 100ths. Admittedly, finishes are a bit more advanced topic, but at the least, kids should touch the wall at the end of each effort and make sure they finish with full force. It’s a mind-set, rather than anything else.

Here are a few tips about finishes:

• Practice– You should practice it every day whenever you finish any lap/set at practice. That’s why it’s important for others in the lane to get out of the way!

• Awareness– Of where you are as you are about to touch the wall. Start practicing outside the flags for all strokes. Backstroke stroke count from flags is especially important.

• No Breathing– From flags to wall. Head down is a faster way to swim. You’ll get plenty of air after you finish.

• Arm(s) Extended– Both front and back. You want to finish with the straight arm(s), as this is the end of the fastest cycle in a stroke and the culmination of your speed in a stroke cycle.

• Hyperextension– Advanced, but makes the point. For freestyle and backstroke, you don’t need to pull the arm up again, so might as well push as much water behind you as you can with the back arm/hand. So extend that wrist, so it is vertical in the water at the end of that last pull. Be careful not to just flick it into air!

• Eyes down (or up for backstroke)– Stretch into the best streamline you can with correct head position- do not look ahead/behind you.

• Final Touch Depth– Slightly underwater. Don’t grab the edge! Aim a bit underwater, like the top of the cross, because that’s where your arm’s momentum is driving you. If you grab the wall, you have to lift the arm at last second and you’ll lose (a lot of) time doing so.

• Lunge– Especially with backstroke, lunge with full force to wall, a bit underwater. You can do a small dolphin kick at the end as you lunge towards the wall to give you that extra little push.

• Through the Wall– Imagine finishing like you are going through the wall, instead of stopping at the wall. In any stroke. Helps not to instinctively slow down at the last stroke. Again, more about mind-set than anything else.

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