Which Swimming Stroke Is Your Favorite? 14
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Breaststroke (9) 64%
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Freestyle (7) 50%
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Backstroke (3) 21%
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Butterfly (3) 21%
Hello! So, summer is around the corner and we all know how awesome swimming is and how much fun it is. That got me thinking though: what are your favorite strokes in swimming and why? Vote in the poll and answer below. Here's my opinion on each stroke because why not:
For me, I love breaststroke because it's so graceful. Seriously, it's stunning to watch people swim it. It is also one of the easiest strokes, if not the easiest, in my opinion. I also like how you can swim it at a nice, slow, relaxing pace or very quickly, depending on what you want to do with it. Just a great stroke all around. I would do it all day if I could. The arm and leg movements are fun to do, and I like how coming up for air is predetermined, so you don't have to be confused about when to come up for air and when to stay under.
Tied with breaststroke for my favorite stroke is butterfly. It is just as much fun to watch. While breaststroke is fun to watch because of how graceful it looks (when done right), butterfly is fun to watch because of how powerful it looks. I don't know how to explain it, but if you know the stroke, you'll know what I mean. It's also a stroke where if you swim it at a slower pace, you always do it wrong, so you kind of have to do it fast, but I don't mind all that much (as long as I'm not super tired already). Plus, it's fast, so good for racing with. Like I said with breaststroke, I also like the arm and leg movements, as they're fun to do, and I also like it because coming up for air is built into the stroke, so I don't need to be confused about when to take a breath and when to stay under a bit longer.
Now, for the two strokes I hate (even though no one asked):
I hate backstroke because you can't see where you're going. If the sun's up, it's constantly shining in your face (clouds are a luxury doing this stroke in all honesty). I constantly bump into the lane lines doing this stroke, only to try and straighten myself out, but not realize I'm only making myself more crooked and bump into the other lane line. Fun times. I also can't tell when I'm in the deep or shallow end and that thought haunts me, along with how close I am to the wall and if I'll bump my head into it at full speed or not. At least I don't need to worry about breathing, so I guess that's one okay thing about it.
Lastly, my least favorite stroke (but the one everyone seems to love) is freestyle. It's too technical for me. Whereas my two favorite strokes come naturally to me, this one never did. I always mess up something and have for years. Whether it's my crooked knees, elbows bent too much, breathing too often or not enough, I always find a way to mess it up. Because of this, I get too hung up on if I'm doing it right or not, to the point where doing it sucks all the joy I have out of me and it puts me in a bad mood if I have to do it too often. I don't get how anyone likes it, but everyone is different I suppose.
So, which strokes do you like (or dislike)? Why? Be respectful and have a great day/night!