Question for the swimmers out there. How do you position your hands. Do you cup them or keep them flat? I have tried both was and don’t really see a difference. I do notice that my hands cramp a bit when I cup them
Thanks!
flat, larger surface area.
I’ve always thought flat and I allow my fingers to be apart, just a little. No more than half a centimeter. I think this creates a slightly bigger grab of water. My 2 cents.
Just viewed the Tom Jager freestyle video, where he specifically addresses that question.
Its all about the largest surface area, therefore flat hand, no cupping, It also makes no difference if the fingers are together or apart, the surface area is the same. He points out that he was the fastest swimmer in the world for years with 2 major gaps between fingers.
Hands flat- more surface area, and it’s also much easier to keep them relaxed- tension in the hand can lead to the bad sort of tension in the forearm as well.
Use some basic aero dynamics to spill over to fluid dynamics, stick your hands out the window whilst driving and feel the resistance as you vary the spread of your fingers, the more resistance in air the more water you can grab, no doubt I will get bashed but try it! More important though would be your body rotation and incorporating the larger muscle groups in the pull after the catch, find a good coach that can swim fast themselves, preferably a distance swimmer.
Think about it - why would you cup them? The only type of oars that are cupped are ones designed for leisure boating (row-boats), where the rowing rate is really slow: so your stroke rate is going to be much faster.
A much more interesting question is fingers together or fingers splayed - which AFIAK no-one has figure out yet.
Think about it - why would you cup them? The only type of oars that are cupped are ones designed for leisure boating (row-boats), where the rowing rate is really slow: so your stroke rate is going to be much faster.
I agree that you shouldn’t cup your hands but the oar analogy doesn’t really work. Racing rowing oars (or blades) are definitely shaped in such a way as to ‘grip’ (I’m sure there is a better technical term than this…) the water better and are not completely flat. Of course, the difference is that when a swimmer cups their hands then they will reduce the effective surface area, while an oar manufacturer can choose exactly how much surface area and cupping/shaping they need without having to trade one for the other.
Oh, I wasn’t aware they were curved. I was just trying to make a simple analogy!
*edited to add the word “aware” and stop confusing you all …
Mostly flat hand. remamber that you use your whole arm to pull though.
“A much more interesting question is fingers together or fingers splayed - which AFIAK no-one has figure out yet.”
I watched a Mickey Warton (I think that’s his last name – swim couach for University of Washington) video where he talked about it. He mention the “hand out the window” test, and also said that the amount of splay is individual, unique to you. It’s something I’d never thought about, but I used to get REALLY sore and tired in the forearms from holding my fingers rigidly together. Since that time, I’ve relaxed them a lot, and now I’m not only faster, but not getting the forearm cramps.
One thing about the highway test though – people tend to mix up the actual backwards force of drag on their hands to the side-to-side push because of hand tilt. Yes, the side-to-side force will be greatest with fingers together, but this is NOT the force you’re looking for. It’s the backwards component.
air is a fluid.
Great, now I’m going to be driving home tonight with my hand out the window giving high fives to other peoples side view mirrors 
.
air is a fluid.
it is? really?
explain!!! please 
“A much more interesting question is fingers together or fingers splayed - which AFIAK no-one has figure out yet.”
I watched a Mickey Warton (I think that’s his last name – swim couach for University of Washington) video where he talked about it. He mention the “hand out the window” test, and also said that the amount of splay is individual, unique to you.
huh, interesting. The last time I went to swim practice with my brother, his coach watched the two of us warm up and then asked me “do you take suggestions?” (Ian laughed and answered for me, “not very well!”) - anyway, he told me your fingers are supposed to be a little bit apart… just slightly… apparently I was kind of squeezing my fingers too close together. I’m not sure what my hands are like now. I don’t think about these things, I just swim 
It is. Without getting all engineery, anything that flows (deforms under applied stress) is a fluid. Fluids include gases (like air) and liquids (like water).
That is really, really neat. I learn so much cool stuff here.
I don’t understand waht you mean by “deforms under stress” though. The word ‘deform’ is confusing me. Can you explain that a little more? (Sorry to ask so many questions curiousity killed the cat)
Now that we’ve established that both air and water are fluids, think of water being made up of tiny particles (like a handful of sand). When pressure is applied, the particles move about each other to deform into a new shape - like pouring from a pitcher into a glass. You can’t “pour” a table (a solid), but you can “pour” a glass of water or air (fluids).
Now that we’ve established that both air and water are fluids, think of water being made up of tiny particles (like a handful of sand). When pressure is applied, the particles move about each other to deform into a new shape - like pouring from a pitcher into a glass. You can’t “pour” a table (a solid), but you can “pour” a glass of water or air (fluids).
Well but it is particles, right? Water molecules!!! I like to swim through them 
Got it. Thanks for taking the time to explain.
Talk about timing. I had a fast swimmer make the comment today to me to open my fingers up a little.
Now, if I could just get and keep the rotation going when I get tired. Am working on it. :o(
Dave