Besides maximizing the thrust force generated, the swimmer must minimize drag to have the fastest and most efficient stroke. There are 3 components to drag force that are predominant in swimming: pressure drag, wave drag, and skin friction drag.
Pressure drag is defined as "the swimmer 'pushing' the water out of the way the way as they swim along."
In order to reduce pressure drag, the swimmer must ensure that the entry of their hand into the water is ideal- maximum surface area of the hand in contact with the surface of the water- and that they have high elbows.
The concept of high elbows is referring to the angling of the swimmer's arm during the recovery phase of the stroke. The more perpendicular the swimmer's elbows are to the direction they are swimming during the initiation of the stroke, the more thrust force they will be able to generate.
block 2: https://www.real-world-physics-problems.com/physics-of-swimming.html
block 3: https://theraceclub.com/2018/04/17/how-to-reduce-the-three-types-of-frontal-drag/#:~:text=Pressure%20(form)%20drag%20can%20be,than%20pulling%20the%20elbow%20high
block 4: https://www.annualreviews.org/doi/full/10.1146/annurev-fluid-011212-140658
picture: https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Feffortlessswimming.com%2Fhow-to-get-your-hand-entry-right%2F&psig=AOvVaw3-J2cFY0kkY1OjhS1kprhT&ust=1616469553839000&source=images&cd=vfe&ved=0CAIQjRxqFwoTCPDD2r_4wu8CFQAAAAAdAAAAABAO
Pressure drag is defined as "the swimmer 'pushing' the water out of the way the way as they swim along."
In order to reduce pressure drag, the swimmer must ensure that the entry of their hand into the water is ideal- maximum surface area of the hand in contact with the surface of the water- and that they have high elbows.
The concept of high elbows is referring to the angling of the swimmer's arm during the recovery phase of the stroke. The more perpendicular the swimmer's elbows are to the direction they are swimming during the initiation of the stroke, the more thrust force they will be able to generate.
block 2: https://www.real-world-physics-problems.com/physics-of-swimming.html
block 3: https://theraceclub.com/2018/04/17/how-to-reduce-the-three-types-of-frontal-drag/#:~:text=Pressure%20(form)%20drag%20can%20be,than%20pulling%20the%20elbow%20high
block 4: https://www.annualreviews.org/doi/full/10.1146/annurev-fluid-011212-140658
picture: https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Feffortlessswimming.com%2Fhow-to-get-your-hand-entry-right%2F&psig=AOvVaw3-J2cFY0kkY1OjhS1kprhT&ust=1616469553839000&source=images&cd=vfe&ved=0CAIQjRxqFwoTCPDD2r_4wu8CFQAAAAAdAAAAABAO