Why does everyone say that freestyle is easier than breaststroke?

Question

I can do breaststroke all day long, but 100m of freestyle and I'm finished!

Answer 1

Correct breaststroke take some coordination and correct timing. When you swim competitively, breaststroke can be just as if not more exhausting than freestyle.

When swimming competitve freestyle, the legs do quite a bit of the work, but there is no 'timing' between the legs and arms. You can also pace your breathing much better (breathing on both sides). Breaststroke, you are propelling your body forward first with your arms, and while your arms are recovering, the legs take over.

I am making an assumption that you are swimming for fitness and not competition, and in that, you probably have your head above water the majority of the time and breathing is much easier in this situation than if you are doing freestyle, even at a slow pace.

Answer 2

Because it can be easier! The keyword, however, is "can". The stroke that is easiest for you is the stroke that you can do best. I, for example, swim freestyle and backstroke, so those are very easy and not tiring for me. My friends who swim breaststroke in meets find that breaststroke is much easier.

It might be that a lot of people think that freestyle is easier than breaststroke, because breaststroke may be easier to swim, but freestyle is typically faster, so it would be easier to swim 50m freestyle in 30 seconds than breaststroke. Breaststroke also requires more precise timing and coordination between your arms and legs and head, while freestyle doesn't require you to move your legs based on how you move your arms.

I find that when I do breaststroke, I can start out well, but my timing gradually gets worse as I swim more.

Answer 3

It is probably because you swim breaststroke at a relaxed pace as opposed to your freestyle. If you were to swim them both at an all out race pace you would burn more calories in the breaststroke race than you would freestyle. This is because breast stroke uses many more muscles than freestyle, and takes more energy. Also, try doing breaststroke rapidly while concentrating on having bad timing, you will go nowhere. In freestyle, it is two seperate systems working, in breaststroke it is all three parts of your body working as one.

Answer 4

It isn't that it is less energy per say, but less coordination required.

As an instructor, I teach the kids freestyle (front crawl) far before we start breaststroke. This is because it is easier to grasp the "windmill" motion and straight legged flutter kick than it is to grasp the "pull, breathe, kick, glide" with funky arm and leg movements of breaststroke.

Freestyle is also the faster stroke, whereas breaststroke is a relaxing stroke- which is why although freestyle is "easier", you can do many more laps of breaststroke than you can of freestyle.

I hope this helps.

Answer 5

To some people freestlye is easier for them to do. Yet, for others Breaststroke is easier. It all depends on the kinda person you are. For instance; I am really good at swimming Breaststroke and Butterfly. Other people I swim with are better then me (sometimes, alot better) at Freestyle. Which stroke you are better at all depends on how your body is made.

Answer 6

Its not easier but its faster comparing to all other strokes. But you being not able to do long distance freestyle doesn't mean its harder . You should improve your breathing and technique!!!
Breaststroke is easier to breath but its slower .

Answer 7

I am one of those people who say freestyle is easier than breastroke. I mean, you go so much faster, and breastroke takes soooo long. Sure, breastroke is really easy and slow, so you don't have to waste your breath, but you probably get out of breath in freestyle because you don't pace yourself in the 100m, and after you go so fast you're tired. That's just my opinion though.

Answer 8

it depends on where your strengths are. long arms and powerful are good for butterfly.quick moving arms are for freestyle and back. long legs are meant for brestroke. quick fast moving legs are for free,butterfly, and back.

Answer 9

It takes less effort for some people but others Breast is easier