THE ARM MOVEMENTS As regards the arm movements some divergence of opinion exists as to the correct position in which the hands should he held and maintained. For instance, Mr. Cobbett says that in the first position the hands should be placed together, the fingers touching, and that after the sweep is made with the arms they should be brought back to the same position. Wilson says ' it is immaterial whether the palms are together or laid out flat,' and that the return of the hands to the front of the chest is attained by bending the wrists and dropping the hands until the fingers point to the bottom of the water, the backs of the hands are to the front, the thumbs inward, and the bands are thus returned to the requisite position sideways.' Captain Andrews, of Toronto, insists upon the hands being placed palm downwards in the first position, but that after separation they should be turned back to back and swept backwards and downwards toward the body.
In our view it is essential that the hands should always, as nearly as possible, be kept flat with the palms downward, as this assists in a great measure in sustaining the body on the surface and also prevents the friction which would naturally arise if the hands from the wrists should be so dropped as to present the back of the hand to the line of progression. As far as the holding of the hands flat at the first position is con cerned, it is immaterial at the start, but as soon as the body is in motion, the keeping of the hands flat adds directly to pro gression. It may seem but a slight matter, but it is these small
details, carefully studied, which tend to accelerate the speed of swimmers.
In order to make our instructions perfectly clear we shall divide the arm movement into three actions, as in the leg stroke : 1. Draw the elbows nearly to the side, at the same time bringing the forearm and hands up to the front of the chest with the palms of the hands downwards near to the surface of the water, fingers extended and closed, forefingers and thumbs nearly touching (fig. 4).
2. Push the hands forward directly in front of you till the arms are at their full extent, still keeping the hands about two or three inches below the surface of the water, and pause or lay on slightly before beginning the next movement (fig. 5).
3. Turn the palms of the hands slightly outwards and take a backward sweeping stroke, and continue the pressure until the hands and arms are brought nearly to a right angle with the body in line with the shoulder (fig. 6). Then gently fold the arms back into first position. As soon as the pressure of the backward sweeping stroke ceases, the hands should be immediately flattened.