However, to swim fast in competition, it is necessary to train at fast speeds. When training at race pace, the body will ride high and the swimmer must learn to hold or feel the water at high speeds. Interestingly, in our culture the display of the middle finger often communicates a power stance. Play with speed every workout. The Index Finger Many of the world's strongest people swim like a rock, displaying poor form.
Water is a thousand times more dense than air.
Doubling your speed in the water results in quadrupling your body's drag force or resistance in the water. The easiest way to get faster is to reduce your body resistance in the water, accomplished by spending time with an expert and a video camera. The limiting factor in grip strength is the ability of the thumb to oppose the force of the fingers. The factor limiting how fast you can swim is not your aerobic fitness, your ability to push through pain, your speed or power in the water, or your ability to overcome the resistance of the water. To swim fast as you are able, you have to want to swim fast more than you want to watch TV, more than you want to feel comfortable or more than you want to eat lunch with a friend.