Methods of Technique Analysis in Swimming
Starts, Turns, and Swimming Technique
Prof. Rein Haljand
1. Methods of Video Analysis
Swimming technique is a continuous process of changing body positions.
Body rotation, arm and leg actions, breathing, and body alignment occur
simultaneously above and under water.
Objective technique analysis therefore requires synchronized underwater
and above-water video recording.
This method allows objective measurement, comparison, correction,
and long-term control of technique development.
1.1 Video Recording System
- Four video cameras (GoPro): two underwater and two above water
- Special trolley system moving two cameras (above and underwater)
parallel to the swimmer (side view, lane 2)
- Two additional cameras (above and underwater) for rear and front views
following the swimmer on lane 1
- Smartphone device mounted on trolley for operator control
(App & WiFi connection to underwater GoPro cameras)
- Start signal device with flash visible above water for start jump synchronization
1.2 Technique Test Protocol
Start Technique Test Protocol
- 25 m from start signal at full speed
- Fixed above-water tripod camera:
side view of starting block (lane 2),
positioned approximately 2 m from start wall and 1 m above floor,
perpendicular linear-wide view, 100 fps
- Moving trolley cameras (above and underwater):
side view recording start and 25 m out at full speed, 100 fps
Turn Technique Test Protocol
- 25 m in + 25 m out at full speed
- Moving trolley cameras (above and underwater):
side view recording entire 25 + 25 m lap, 100 fps
Finishing Technique Test Protocol
- 25 m into the finish wall at full speed
- Moving trolley cameras (above and underwater):
side view recording final 25 m, 100 fps
Swimming Technique Test Protocol
- Use side-view recordings (both sides) from start, turn, and finish clips
- Additional rear and front view recordings:
25 m into wall + 25 m out from wall (lane 1) at training speed
- Above-water trolley camera:
transition from perpendicular to diagonal view —
diagonal rear view before turn, diagonal front view after turn
- Underwater moving camera with extended holder mounted on trolley
for rear and front views (approx. 1 m depth),
following behind swimmer and after turn moving ahead of swimmer
- Trolley must move smoothly forward/backward to avoid distortion
from extended underwater camera holder
Medley Technique Test Protocol
- 25 m butterfly start at full speed (side view, lane 2)
- Three turns with style changes (15 m in + 15 m out, side view lane 2)
- Four × (25 + 25) in the four swimming styles (rear/front views, lane 1)
Relay Takeover Technique Test Protocol
- Fixed above-water tripod camera:
side view of starting block and lane 2, 100 fps
- Moving trolley cameras (above and underwater):
side view recording takeover exchange
(incoming swimmer + jumping swimmer), 100 fps
1.3 Analysis of Technique Elements
Analysis of Timing
Timing of arm strokes, leg kicks, body rotation, and breathing
is the most important element of swimming technique,
including starts and turns.
- coordination between arms, legs, and breathing
- identification of key positions using still frames
Analysis of Kicking
Underwater Dolphin Kicking
- Key element after starts and turns (backstroke, freestyle, butterfly)
- Kick rate typically 100–200 kicks per minute
- Optimal kick rate approximately 150–180 kicks per minute
- Number of kicks up to 10 within first 15 m
- Distance per kick approximately 0.8–1.0 m
Freestyle / Backstroke / Butterfly Kicking
- rhythm and symmetry
- number of kicks per stroke cycle
- timing of kicks relative to arm strokes
- depth, amplitude, hip rotation, ankle flexibility
Breaststroke Kicking
- timing of underwater fly kick after start and turns
- timing of first underwater breaststroke kick
- leg position at kick initiation
- trajectory of feet movement
Analysis of Arm Strokes
- comparison of first strokes after starts and turns
- comparison of last strokes before turns and finish
- stroke rate (20–80 cycles per minute)
- distance per stroke (stroke length)
Analysis of Breathing
- Analysis of three breathing elements: inhale, breath holding, exhale
- Timing of breathing relative to movement phases
- Inhaling during preparation and recovery phases
- Breath holding and exhaling during propulsive phases
- Effect of non-breathing phases on speed during short laps
- Influence of body rotation during side breathing
- Body inclination and balance during bilateral breathing
Analysis of Overall Technique Parameters
- Forward body speed analysis
- Speed analysis by movement phases (push, glide, recovery)
- Speed fluctuation within stroke cycles
- Trajectory analysis (catch, pull, push, recovery, glide, flight)
- Speed and acceleration of hands and feet (horizontal, vertical, pattern components)
- Distance and duration of glide, flight, rotation, pull, push, recovery, catch
- Joint angles and body positions (hip, knee, ankle, shoulder, elbow, wrist)
Analysis of Relay Takeovers
- Official takeover time (hand touch – feet leave wall)
- 10 m segment time (5 m before + 5 m after takeover, underwater view)
- Finishing swimmer speed in last 5 m
- Time between initiation of movement and feet leaving the block
- Flight speed and length of jumping swimmer
- Underwater hand entry speed
- First 5 m speed of jumping swimmer (feet off until head crosses 5 m line)
1.4 Feedback Sessions with Swimmers and Coaches
- Individual feedback sessions with swimmer and coach
- Identification of unnecessary movements and technical mistakes
- Comparison between perception and actual execution
- Visualization supporting recognition of technical details
- Transfer of visual feedback into kinesthetic muscle memory
- Slow-motion and frame-by-frame playback for visual memory development
- Integration of rhythm through stroke and kick count sound feedback
- On-screen display of measured data (time, angles, distance, speed, acceleration)
- Split-screen comparison (previous test vs new test; benchmark comparison)
- Recording of measurements and comments
- Delivery of analysed video files (.MJPEG2 format for Video Analyzer Viewer app)