These swimming strokes differ in the body movements, body muscles used, speed of movement and many other aspects. Most importantly, they differ in difficulty and when they can be most suited as well. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you\u2019re just\nstarting out to learn swimming, you\u2019ll start with the simplest which is the\nfront crawl or freestyle. After mastering this one, you can go to its various\nvariations before embarking on the others. With improved breathing and body\nmovements, you\u2019ll be able to switch from one stroke to the other in no time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Following is a list of the most common swimming types or styles with their names.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Front Crawl or Freestyle<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The front crawl is the easiest yet fastest swimming method. It\u2019s the standard swimming method given that most people start learning swimming through it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It entails simple strokes with both hands and feet with the body lying horizontal, facing downwards. The movement for this style is always forward. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The hardest part with this style is timing the breathing with each stroke. Exhaling in most case done through the nose while facing down. Inhaling is done through your mouth when part of face is out of water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ho<\/strong><\/a>w to Swim Freestyle: Technique, Tips & Drills<\/a> <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Another very common\nswimming style is the breaststroke. This style highly mimics the jumping and\nswimming movements a frog. It is the oldest and yet the slowest stroke <\/p>\n\n\n\n In the early stages of\nlearning this style of swimming, you are allowed to swim with your head above the\nwater. As such, it\u2019s among the easiest to learn given that the swimmer can\neasily breath. With breathing being among the toughest tasks when learning how\nto swim, this is a major advantage. <\/p>\n\n\n\n At advanced levels\nand swimming competitions, your head should be underwater as you glide and\nbreath out. You get your head out to inhale at designated points in the stroke.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Unlike freestyle, when doing breaststroke, the body position changes continuously during the stroke cycle. It changes from a streamline horizontal position (after kicking), to an inclined position (for inhaling) during the arm pull.<\/p>\n\n\n\n H<\/a>ow to Swim Breaststroke: Kick, Pull, Form, Drills & Tips<\/a> <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The butterfly stroke is among fastest swimming styles and used in lots of water competitions. It is the second fastest after front crawl.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, it\u2019s a very complex style to master especially if you are new swimmer. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Basically you start in a horizontal position with your stomach facing down. You move your up to breathe, your arms perform the pull.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Your legs(straight and together) perform the dolphin kick. A kick similar to how a dolphin tail moves. Your body moves in a fluid wave-like motion. <\/p>\n\n\n\n While difficult to learn, this style has its benefits as evidenced by the many medals in Mike Phelps\u2019 cabinet. Also, the fluid movements entailed in this workout make it one of the best when it comes to working out the whole body. <\/p>\n\n\n\n How to Swim Butterfly: Technique, Drills & Tips<\/a> <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The backstroke is simply the freestyle but on your back. The movements are exactly the same but you\u2019ll be doing so while on your back.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s a great exercise routine especially when you have a problem with your back. The fact that you\u2019ll be making movements without taxing the back too much facilitates your healing process. <\/p>\n\n\n\n How to Swim Backstroke-Technique, Drills & Tips<\/a> <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Another very simple\nswimming style is the elementary backstroke. It\u2019s the simpler version of the\nbackstroke and called \u2018elementary\u2019 due to its simplistic nature. It\u2019s among the\nfirst styles taught to children as it\u2019s easy to grasp, allows for easy\nbreathing and fun to perform. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The fact that you\u2019re not coordinating any part of the body with another makes it simple enough to be done by anyone at any age. It\u2019s another style you can use when you\u2019re far off from the land and just want to slowly drift without using lots of energy. It\u2019s also easy to float as long as you keep your body straight. <\/p>\n\n\n\n H<\/strong><\/a>ow to Swim Elementary Backstroke- Technique, Drills & Tips<\/a> <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The sidestroke, while not used for competitive purposes owing to its slow nature, is an important style to learn as it can save lives. When lifeguards rescue someone drowning, they employ this style given that it allows carrying something as you swim.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Also, if you find yourself away from land and you have to swim for long, this style is quite good as it employs very little energy. <\/p>\n\n\n\n As its name suggests, it\u2019s a style done on one side of the body. It\u2019s another easy style to learn as your head will mostly be above the water. You start by floating your body sideways on the water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n How to Swim Sidestroke-Technique,Trudgen & Combat Drills & Tips<\/a> <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The most complex yet most efficient swimming stroke is the combat sidestroke. It\u2019s not a pure style as such, but a combination of the sidestroke, freestyle and the breaststroke.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It was created for US Navy SEALs as it helps you save energy, move fast and reduce your profile in the water. As such, it\u2019s a stealth type of swimming style that causes very little disturbance on the water yet very fast. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The focus is to keep the head, back and hips on a single axis even as you twist to the side and downwards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You don\u2019t want a pirate spotting you as you swim for a critical recuse mission if you\u2019re a navy SEAL. All the movements happen in the water but just below the surface where there\u2019s very little pressure. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The trudgen swimming\nstroke is another hybrid style combining the freestyle and sidestroke styles\nfor a unique yet easy result. It\u2019s named after the famous English swimmer John\nTrudgen. <\/p>\n\n\n\n This style entails majorly swimming on your side while using arms over your head and scissor kicks in every second stroke. The scissor kick occurs when you\u2019re on your side.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As your left arm comes over your head, your legs spread in readiness for the scissor kick. As the arm comes down to the surface of the water, you do the scissor kick by pulling your legs together. <\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s very much like\ndoing a half combat sidestroke. Given that your head will always be above the\nwater, you\u2019ll have lots of space to breath. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Treading water is a swimming technique that involves moving your arms and legs simultaneously but in an efficient way. In most cases you remain in vertical position without moving.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Just like sculling, treading is not stroke but a safety technique that beginners learn before moving to other swim strokes.It is specifically meant to make swimmers stay afloat when stopping a swim stroke in deep waters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It is a way to relax or rest in water without having to get out. As your body is kept body afloat and your head above the surface, you can easily breathe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There are so many ways to do tread water. However, any technique that will keep you afloat with moving while utilizing your legs and hands can be considered water treading<\/p>\n\n\n\n How to Tread Water- Techniques, Benefits & Exercises<\/a> <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n This a basic swimming technique in which your hands make\nhorizontal in the water to keep your head above the water surface without\nsinking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It is a fundamental safety skill that novice swimmers are taught. Professional synchronized swimming performances rely a lot on this skill as well. You can scull vertically or horizontally.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The basic sculling technique involves moving your arms, in a\ncircular or figure-eight motion palms facing down nearly parallel to floor.\nThis done on or just under the surface of the water, exerting pressure\ndownward.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Do bend your elbows and keep hands in front, positioned a little bit wider than shoulders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Sculling in Swimming: How to do it <\/a> <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nBreaststroke<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"Swimming](\"https:\/\/aquaticglee.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/swimming-breaststroke-technique-kick-pull-drills.jpg\")
Butterfly<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Backstroke<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Elementary Backstroke<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Sidestroke<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"sidestroke](\"https:\/\/aquaticglee.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/sidestroke.jpg\")
Combat Sidestroke<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Trudgen<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Treading Water<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"Treading](\"https:\/\/aquaticglee.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/water-treading-swimming-pool.jpg\")
Sculling<\/h2>\n\n\n\n