How to Swim the Corkscrew

The corkscrew swim stroke is usually used during training as an exercise to build endurance and strength. Like it's name says, the stroke is a constant rotating motion that keeps the swimmer spinning in the water. This stroke is for an intermediate swimmer--a beginner may quickly experience disorientation and fatigue.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

1. Begin swimming by doing the front crawl or freestyle stroke.

2. Do a half of the front crawl first. Reach out with your right arm, and then pull that arm through the water to complete the stroke on the right side.

3. Turn your front crawl into the backstroke next with the following stroke and left arm motion.

4. Flip your body over, and complete a backstroke with this arm by reaching back and gliding your arm through the water.

5. Rotate from the back stroke to the front crawl by turning over after you complete one stroke on each side. Turn your body constantly spinning to stay in a corkscrew motion in the water.

6. Keep kicking your feet and moving forward while rotating strokes.

Tips & Warnings

• A lot of triathlon swimmers use this drill as an endurance and recovery exercise. It is also used as a synchronized swimming movement.
• Swim a variation of the corkscrew that is less disorienting by rotating after four strokes. Do four front strokes, then four back strokes and repeat.
• The corkscrew can cause you to veer out of your designated lane, so this exercise is best done in open water without a lot of people around.

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