What a dropped elbow is
A dropped elbow happens at the start of the pull, when the elbow sinks below the hand.
The hand and forearm then press the water down toward the pool floor, instead of pushing it back toward your feet.
Why it costs you distance
Water pushed down does little to move you forward, so the hand slips and each stroke carries you a shorter way.
You end up taking more strokes and working harder for the same length.
How to fix it
Just after the hand enters, bend at the elbow early and keep the elbow near the surface.
Let the forearm tip toward the pool floor, so your hand and forearm become one paddle facing the wall behind you.
One drill to try
- Scull face down with your arms in front, sweeping the hands gently in and out with the fingertips pointing down.
- Then swim a length with closed fists, so the forearm has to hold the water on its own.
- Open the hands again and keep the same feeling of pressure on the forearm.
How to film it so Llyr can read it
Stand your phone on the pool deck, side-on to your lane, with your whole body in the frame. Llyr shows you how to frame the shot.
The side view is the one that shows the elbow against the hand. Swim several strokes through the frame at your normal pace.
Already have a clip? You can import a video you filmed earlier instead. Read the full filming guide.
What you see in Llyr
When an elbow drops on stroke after stroke, Llyr names it Dropped elbow and shows it on a still from your own video.
Its glyph is a shaded angle at the shoulder, between your arm as filmed and the dashed line it aims for.
The cue to take into your next set is Hold the water, do not slip.
Llyr is a second set of eyes, not a coach. Check each correction on the replay, and if your coach sees it differently, go with your coach.