Arms up vs. Arms down

[Gail_Berke]

After watching this video, , why swim with your arms above your head when you're wearing a monofin?

Swimming with your arms down is more comfortable, the dolphins like you better with your arms at your side, and you look much more like a mermaid with your arms down -- way more graceful looking IMO.

Swimming with your arms up sort of protects your head if you bump into something -- but while I feel like I'm swimming at Warp 10 with my monofin on, I don't think I'm going so fast I have to worry about knocking myself out if I bumped into something.

So if you're not competing for a CW record and you're just having fun in the sea wearing a monofin, why swim with your arms above your head?

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GYzlou3bPq4"][/ame]

 

[watts]

If i remember correctly Seb Murat used to swim close to the old finswimming WR over 50m with his arms down. The head position changes slightly looking forward more.

 

[salibandy]

After watching this video, YouTube - test test , why swim with your arms above your head when you're wearing a monofin?

I believe it's because of streamlining.

So if you're not competing for a CW record and you're just having fun in the sea wearing a monofin, why swim with your arms above your head?

Habit maybe?

 

[drunkinbda]

i sometimes do question though, how much extra streamlining comes from just one hand up? I know two hands but is good, but just one? doesnt seem like it would do much besides adjust comfort (better or worse)

 

[ILDiver]

With the hand(s) up it seems easier to adjust your direction as you dive down. Swimming horizontally with a monofin, having my hands out in front I can feel the resistance in my hands. See if I can describe this.... With my hands at my side, my upper body moves more as I kick. I feel as if I'm losing energy out of my kick. I feel like I have to work harder. With my arms extended over my head, I can feel the pressure of the water against them and it prevents my upper bod from being effected by the stroke. It feels as if there is more energy going to the blade rather than moving my body up and down. I feel like I can relax more and I'm not wasting effort.

I have not timed a swim to confirm, I'm just going by the feeling. I've never had a mono fin lesson. I just watch videos online and try to mimic the techniques I see.

 

[serafino]

When dolphin kicking dynamic I find that with my hands out in front of me I can use them to change my depth and distance from the bottom of the pool. Not only that but I also get a little extra propulsion by moving them in a wiggling fashion with my whole body. So my personal opinion is it is much more efficient and streamlines you much better. If you are just diving for fun though I don't see why you would care too much about optimal efficiency. To sum it up if you are competing put you arms in front of you side by side flat and if just going for fun and being comfortable leave em at your sides.

 

[demasoni]

Check out this thread:

http://forums.deeperblue.com/constant-weight/61076-arms-position.html


Alun George (DB name Alun), a supporter of the arms down philosophy from the UK dove VERY deep in CWT with his arms by his sides with an old school Waterway.