Backstroke: weak catch

Pulls with a straight, deep arm or slips the hand through the water instead of bending and pushing to the thigh.

Activities that help

• Backstroke Pull Buoy Lengths – Backstroke arms with a pull buoy between the thighs so swimmers feel the catch and push without relying on the kick.
• Bend and Push – The backstroke underwater arm bends and then pushes the water down to the thigh – a stronger, safer catch than a straight-arm sweep.