Breaststroke is the slowest of the four strokes due to the glide or streamline portion, when no action is taken that contributes to forward propulsion. Extra diligence is needed to minimize the resistance throughout the stroke.
Breaststroke is the slowest of the four official styles in competitive swimming. The fastest breaststrokers can swim about 1.70 meters (~5.6 feet) per second. It is sometimes the hardest to teach to rising swimmers after butterfly due to the importance of timing and the coordination required to move the legs properly.
Swimming front crawl (well) is far quicker than breaststroke because you should be creating far less resistance, and you will have almost constant propulsion.
Breaststroke. The breast stroke is the slowest stroke, but also the easiest. It is one of the first strokes taught to young swimmers. This is also because you don't have to put your head underwater.
Breaststroke is giving you the extra challenge of recovering the arms under water, and a tricky kick which makes you drop your knees and put most of your weight on the back of your buoyancy center (your lungs). This also explains why it is the slowest but also hardest stroke to master well.
Front crawl: Swimming uses all major muscle groups and boosts cardio fitness and endurance. Despite being the fastest, most continuous stroke, crawl is more economical in energy expenditure than breaststroke. Breaststroke: Breaststroke is the slowest competitive stroke, but uses most energy.
In terms of energy expended, front crawl is more efficient for a skilled swimmer. Breaststroke uses the big leg muscles, and you can spend half … the stroke in a glide, so it feels much easier. It is so difficult to get the breathing exactly right for the front crawl, which makes it more exhausting than breaststroke.
Butterfly
To anyone who's not a professional swimmer, the butterfly is intimidating. It's easily the hardest stroke to learn, and it requires some serious strength before you can start to match the speeds of the other strokes. It's also one of the best calorie-burners, with a rate of around 820 calories per hour.
While other styles like the breaststroke, front crawl, or backstroke can be swum adequately by beginners, the butterfly is a more difficult stroke that requires a good technique as well as strong muscles.
Though most swimmers don't breathe during every stroke, the legendary Olympian does so to maintain his rhythm and balance.
Like all strokes in general, the breaststroke casting is very effective for strengthen stomach muscles. Thanks to the movements of the arms and legs, it also allows you to work the shoulders, waist and buttocks. However, be careful not to overdo it, at the risk of tiring yourself out, especially in the hips and knees.
Butterfly – this stroke has been shown to burn the most calories with on average 400-500 burnt in a 30min session. It is excellent for toning muscles, especially in the arms, chest, and back.
Breaststroke is a much better cardiovascular workout than the other strokes. It helps strengthen heart and lungs while toning thighs, upper back, triceps, hamstrings and lower legs. It helps to work and tone the chest muscles.
The notion of doing flip turns in breaststroke (or butterfly) might seem strange. The first thing that comes to mind for most swimmers is probably “I'll get DQ'd.” But interestingly, as long as you still touch the wall with both hands, flip turns are perfectly legal in breaststroke and butterfly.
Too Much Head Movement
In breaststroke, this means keeping your head in a neutral position as you take your breath, using the pull to lift yourself up instead of bobbing your head up and down. Moving your head around will throw off your body position and sink your hips.
Can swimming make you taller? No. It is generally a myth that swimming can make you taller. Any stretching out that might happen as you swim is only temporary and won't be a noticeable change or make a difference in swimming speed.
Swimming breaststroke might not be as fast as front crawl, but it still provides a good all-over workout for most of the major muscle groups in your body. In particular it tones the quadriceps, glutes, upper back, triceps, hamstrings and lower legs. It also helps to work and tone the chest muscles.
Professionals estimate that almost everyone who swims regularly will experience some degree of shoulder pain, which will temporarily prevent swimming. Swimmer's shoulder is the most common swimming injury, and often results from the freestyle stroke.
The butterfly stroke is undoubtedly the best to tone the abs. As if four strokes were not enough, there are alternatives to the classic swim strokes to tone your abs. If you want to work your abdominal muscles without falling into a routine, undulating strokes and leg kicks will be your best bet!
The breaststroke is easy to swim slow and is, in fact, the slowest stroke. So, when you are out for a nice easy swim, this is the stroke for you. Cons: The breaststroke is the slowest stroke. It is one of the hardest to learn because of all the components and the timing to do it correctly.
A two-hand touch is required for finishes and turns in Breaststroke and Butterfly. At each turn and at the finish of the race, the touch shall be made with both hands separated and simultaneously at, above, or below the water level.
The Breaststroke tones the muscles in your shoulders and triceps, as well as your chest muscles. The arm movement includes an in-sweep and an out-sweep motion that build the shoulders and back.
Breaststroke will work out your chest muscles (pectoralis major), latissimus dorsi in your back; biceps, triceps, brachialis and brachioradialis in your arms, and deltoids in your shoulders. A pretty solid start! On your lower half it will tackle your glutes, hamstrings and lower legs in style.
Some of the muscles used in breaststroke include your latissimus dorsi (back muscles), pectoralis major (chest muscles), biceps and triceps (arm muscles), brachialis, brachioradialis, and deltoids (shoulder muscles).