Streamline underwater dolphin kick
Use a few dolphin kicks after the wall push-off while holding a streamlined body line and making a controlled transition to surface swimming.
- Stroke
-
ButterflyBackstrokeFreestyle
- Goal
-
Turns and streamlines
- Level
-
Advanced
- Equipment
-
Fins
How to do it
Push off in streamline at a comfortable depth. Use a few compact dolphin kicks, then rise and begin swimming before speed falls away. Keep the distance comfortable and appropriate for the swimmer; fins are optional.
Key cues
- Keep a narrow line from the hands through the feet.
- Keep the dolphin kicks small and continuous.
- Choose the breakout based on quality and comfort, not a distance record.
- Begin swimming while you are still moving well.
Common mistakes
- Chasing maximum underwater distance.
- Using large knee-driven kicks.
- Losing streamline on the first kick.
- Delaying the breakout as the urge to breathe rises.
Practice format
6 to 8 repetitions from the wall with 3 to 6 controlled dolphin kicks and full recovery between attempts; add surface swimming on the final repeats.
Point d’attention
Safety
This is not a breath-hold drill. Never hyperventilate or deliberately extend submersion; surface whenever needed and follow pool rules. In competition contexts, the head must break the surface by 15 m in strokes where that limit applies.