Count Your Strokes

COUNT YOUR STROKES                   ©Bill Moorcroft Swimming

All swimmers need to be aware of many things, but one of the most important is the number of strokes to complete one lap. As the most number of strokes does not indicate the fastest swimmer, the least number of strokes also does not indicate the slowest swimmer. Stroke rate, stroke length, streamline, body roll, aggressive catch, pull, balance and fitness are all major influences, but each swimmer should be aware of their strokes per lap. Greatest efficiency, or speed gained from effort, will be found where a balance is developed with all the factors and is often displayed in the combination of stroke length and strokes per lap.

Stroke Rate:       The amount of time taken for one complete stroke cycle.

Stroke Length:  The length the body travels during one complete stroke cycle.

Stroke Cycle:      The fundamental basic unit of swimming, comprising the movements from any point in the coordinated, cyclical movement of arms and legs to the same point one cycle later.

Golf:                    While swimming 50m repeats, calculate your “score” for each 50m by counting your strokes in both directions (one arm equals one stroke) and adding it to your time. For example: If you swim 50m freestyle with 20 strokes per 25m in a time of 0:40, you would have a score of 80 (20 + 20 + 40). Descend your score by taking less strokes and/or completing the 50m in less seconds with each successive 50m.