What Are The Five Basic Swim Strokes?

Several swimming strokes are used in swimming competitions. Each stroke requires different skills and different movements of the body. Learning the swimming strokes can help you become an accomplished swimmer.

Dog Paddle

While not a competitive swimming stroke, the dog paddle is an elementary stroke that helps children and new swimmers learn how to move in the water. The dog paddle consists of moving the hands and legs in short, brisk strokes to propel the swimmer through the water. The stroke is so named because it is patterned after the way dogs, with their short limbs, paddle through water.

Front Crawl

Also known as the freestyle stroke because it is usually the preferred stroke by swimmers in freestyle competitions, the front crawl is a more advanced version of the dog paddle. It is performed by the swimmer lying face-down in the water and fully extending the arms and legs. The swimmer then makes large strokes through the water with his arms and hands, while at the same time kicking with the legs.

Breaststroke

The breaststroke is executed by sweeping the arms across the chest, extending them fully in front of the body and then pulling them back. The swimmer dips below the water with his body, and then uses the arms, hands and legs to propel himself out of the water as the hands come together in the center of the chest. As the swimmer emerges from the water, the hands separate and move through the water to propel the swimmer.

Butterfly

The butterfly is a powerful stroke that employs the feet in a dolphin-like motion to propel the swimmer through and up out of the water. The swimmer emerges at the waist and brings the arms out in a T formation. He then pulls his arms together as he makes a diving motion back into the water.

Backstroke

The backstroke is done as the swimmer lies on his back. The stroke is done by beginning with one arm to the swimmer's side and the other high above the head. As the swimmer kicks his legs, he moves his arms in a windmill motion through the water, alternating arms through and up out of the water and back through.