THE LEG STROKE There are three distinct motions of the legs necessary to make a complete leg stroke. The first is, that of the feet being drawn up towards the body ; the second, of turning the toes outward and at the same time stretching the legs sideways nearly to their full extent, keeping them well apart ; the third motion is that of closing the extended legs sharply, bringing them into a straight line with the body, with the toes extended preparatory to drawing them up again to the first position.
Although these motions may appear perfectly simple to the uninitiated, they have given rise to many diverse opinions as to their respective value in propulsion, and scarcely any two writers on the art are in accord as to which of the three is calculated to have the best effect, and which of them are really the negative strokes.
Some experts are of opinion that the second portion of the stroke is the mainspring of all speed, while others have satisfied themselves that this is not so, and maintain that the third or completing movement must be reckoned as of the highest importance.
Before entering upon the subject ourselves we will deal with the opinions expressed by some of the best known writers of recent years.
Wilson tells us that there is a general belief that the sudden and powerful kicking out of the feet in such a way as to let the soles strike the water is the movement that aids most directly to propulsion, while in reality this movement is as nearly as possibly can be, if it be not completely and thoroughly, 'a negative or non-propelling power. The propelling motion is the one following, and in order to give it its proper effect the feet must be stretched wide apart and straight to opposite sides, bet not suddenly or with force. The wider the feet are stretched from each other the better. Once the legs are put out wide they are stiffened, every muscle is set, and with all the strength one can command they are brought firmly and stiffly together. A strong effort is made to grasp, as it were, the water the whole length of the legs downwards.
This theory of the movements of the legs is to a great extent, if not entirely, adopted by Captain Webb, who swam across the Channel. In his book he observes that : It is a popular fallacy to imagine that the speed of the swimmer in any way depends on the resistance of the water against the soles of the feet. The propelling power in swimming is caused by the legs being suddenly brought from a position in which they are placed wide apart, into one in which they are closed together like the blades of a pair of scissors. In fact, the mechanical power
here brought into play is that of the wedge. For instance, sup pose a wedge of ice were suddenly pinched hard between the thumb and finger, it is evident that the wedge of ice would shoot off in the direction opposite to that in which the sharp edge points.
In a work entitled How to Swim,' the author, the Rev. J. G. Wood, M.A., states that he was a swimmer all his life, thinks there is no art in keeping the head above water, and is of opinion that no advantage can be gained by taking notice of or studying the strokes, as there are a dozen different strokes, and each is equally good in its way.' In speaking of leg movements, Mr. Wood says, I have seen many books which recommend the learner to place a basin half full of water on the floor, put a frog in it, lie face downwards over a stool, and try to imitate the movements of the frog. This may be well enough for the legs ; but what of the arms, on which the swimmer depends much more than the legs ?' It will be noticed that the last-named writer holds quite the opposite view from that of Mr. Wilson and Captain Webb as to the primary importance of the legs in the promotion of speed, and thinks that the action of the arms is of far greater importance than that of the legs. Again, in a book called The Art of Swimming in the Eton Style,' written by Sergeant Leahy, who was the college swimming instructor, we find the following opposite opinion advanced With the soles of our feet we balance ourselves and walk on the land ; and with then, also we propel ourselves through the water. To use the soles of the feet to the greatest advantage—that is, to strike the water with the soles only—the knees, as I have said, ought to be turned out, and the toes drawn up towards the shins before every kick.' The idea of Sergeant Leahy and the Rev. J. G. Wood is that the soles of the feet play an important part in the propulsion of a human being through the water, but they differ as to the importance of the leg movements compared with those of the arms ; yet both of them are at variance with Mr. Wilson and Captain Webb as to the action of the legs, and as to the portions of the stroke from which the propelling power in swimming is obtained.