The single-arm technique, like for example swimming backstroke with one arm, allows swimmers to think about what they are doing in the water. Attention is focused on both their body position and arm movement.
When we talk about backstroke, we are referring to one of the most elegant swim strokes. You can tell if somebody is a good backstroke swimmer, because they seem to torpedo through the water. There is no splashing as their arms enter the water and they move forward in a smooth linear motion. This is partly due to significant input from the legs and a powerful arm stroke. It is fair to say that the two distinctive traits of an excellent backstroke swimmer are a lack of resistance to the water resulting in efficient forward drive from their arm stroke
To begin with, let’s take a look at front resistance. The best way to reduce it is to make sure your head is perfectly in line with your shoulders. This creates greater buoyancy around the hips and, consequently, a more efficient leg kick. Unfortunately, swimmers tend to break down this perfectly smooth sequence by lowering their head, particularly during the thrust phase. This results in their body no longer being perfectly aligned in the water. Their arm stroke loses efficiency, their hips drop…
