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A style is also known as a 'stroke'. "Stroke" can also refer to a single completion of the sequence of body movements repeated while swimming in the given style. It is possible to swim by moving only legs without arms or only arms without legs; such strokes may be used for special purposes, for training or exercise, or by amputees and paralytics: see paralympic swimming.

Contents

Competition styles

Recreational styles

On the breast

On the back

On the side

Special purpose styles

Manipulating objects

Without forward motion

Competition styles

There are four swimming styles commonly swum in competitions. Three of them are regulated by the FINA. These three are:

★ Breaststroke

★ Backstroke

★ Butterfly stroke
A fourth competition is for unregulated styles and is called freestyle. During freestyle, it is possible to swim any style on this list. Due to the superior speed, most swimmers choose front crawl for freestyle competitions. Competitive swimmers often use the term "freestyle" to refer to front crawl, even though this is technically not correct. For medley swimming freestyle is any style except breaststroke, backstroke, and butterfly.

Recreational styles

On the breast

★ Front crawl is the fastest swimming style.

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★ Trudgen (also known as ''trudgeon''): The trudgen is similar to the front crawl, except that it is swum with a scissor kick

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★ Trudgen crawl: Similar to the trudgen, but with a flutter kick between the scissor kicks

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★ Double trudgen: Similar to the trudgen, but the sides of the scissor kick alternate

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★ Double trudgen crawl: Similar to the double trudgen, but with a flutter kick between the scissor kicks

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★ Dolphin crawl: Similar to front crawl, but with a dolphin kick. One kick per arm or two kicks per cycle. This style is often used in training.

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★ Catch up stroke: A variation of the front crawl where one arm always rests at the front while the other arm performs one cycle.

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★ Total Immersion is a version of front crawl in which body rotation is emphasised to increase the propulsive effect of the arms.

★ Breaststroke

★ Heads-Up Breaststroke: Similar to the breaststroke, but the head stays out of the water. This style is very popular for recreational swimmers and also for rescue swimmers approaching a victim.

★ Butterfly

★ Slow butterfly (also known as ''moth stroke''): Similar to butterfly, but with an extended gliding phase, Breathing during the pull/push phase, return head into water during recovery. This style uses four kicks or more per cycle.

★ Dog paddle: face over water and paddling alternatingly with the hands, often with the nose and mouth above the water.

★ Human stroke: Similar to the dog paddle, but the arms reach out more and pull farther down.

★ Survival travel stroke: Alternating underwater arm stroke, one cycle for propulsion, one for lift to stay on the surface. This style is slow but sustainable.

★ Snorkeling: Swimming on the breast using a snorkel, usually in combination with masks and fins. Any stroke on the breast can be used, and there is no need to lift or turn the head for breathing.

★ Finswimming is the progression of a swimmer using fins either on the water surface or under water. Finswimming is usually done on the breast.

On the back

★ Backstroke (also known as ''back crawl'')

★ Elementary backstroke: Both arms move synchronized with a small synchronized kick. This is also sometimes known as the Lifesaving Kick

★ Inverted breaststroke: Similar to elementary backstroke, but with a breaststroke kick.

★ Inverted butterfly: Similar to elementary backstroke, but with a dolphin kick. This is often used for training.

★ Back double trudgen: Similar to the backstroke, but with a scissor kick to alternating sides.

★ Flutter back finning: Symmetrically underwater arm recovery with flutter kick.

★ Feet first swimming: A very slow stroke on the back where a breaststroke movement with the arms propels the body forward feet first. This is often used for training.

On the side

★ Side stroke: Lying on the side with alternating underwater recovery and a scissor kick

★ Overarm sidestroke: Similar to the side stroke, but with an over water recovery of the top arm

★ used mostly for training purposes to help with freestyle
otation of the swimmer. The stroke is used mainly for training purposes

★ Underwater swimming: any style with underwater recovery can be swum under water for certain distances depending on the need for air. Underwater swimming on the back has the additional problem of water entering the nose. To avoid this, the swimmer can breathe out through the nose or wear a nose clip. Some swimmers can close their nostrils with the upper lip.

★ Gliding: The swimmer is stretched with the arms to the front, the head between the arms and the feet to the back. This streamlined shape minimizes resistance and allows the swimmer to glide, for example after a start, a push off from a wall, or to rest between strokes.

★ Turtle stroke: on the breast, extend right arm then pull, after pushing with the left leg (while opposite limbs are recovering), then opposite limbs repeat this process, i.e. left arm pulls after right leg pushes. Uses muscles of the waist. Head can easily be above or below water: this is a slow but very sustainable stroke, popular with turtles and newts.

Special purpose styles

A number of strokes are only used for special purposes, e.g. to manipulate an object (a swimmer in distress, a ball), or just to stay afloat. (''see also: Drowning'')

Manipulating objects

★ Lifesaving stroke: Similar to the side stroke, but only the bottom arm moves while the top arm tows a swimmer in distress

★ Lifesaving approach stroke (also known as ''head-up front crawl''): Similar to the front crawl, but with the eyes to the front above the water level, such as to observe the surroundings as for example a swimmer in distress or a ball

★ Water polo stroke: This stroke is used for water polo and is similar to front crawl, but with head above the water and a slightly inward curved arm to keep the ball between the arms and in front of the head.

★ Pushing rescue stroke: This stroke helps assisting a tired swimmer: The tired swimmer lies on the back and the rescuer swims a breaststroke kick and pushes against the soles of the tired swimmer (not taught or recognised by the RLSS body governing Uk lifeguarding)

★ Pulling rescue stroke: This stroke helps assisting a swimmer in distress. The both swimmers lie on the back, and the rescuer grabs the armpits of the swimmer in distress and performs a breaststroke kick (on the back) for forward motion. The kick has to be not too shallow as otherwise the victim will be hit

★ Extended Arm Tow(unconscious victim): swimming sidestroke or breaststroke on their back the rescuer holds the head with a straight arm the hand cupping underneath the chin, and ensures that the mouth and nose are out of the water

★ Arm Tow the rescuer swims sidestroke, behind the casualty holds the upper right arm of a casualty with their left hand or vice versa lifting the casualty out of the water

★ Vice Grip Turn and Trawl - used ona casualty with a suspected spinal injury, the lifeguard approaches slowly to the casualty who is usually face down in water,one hand placed with hand on chin, arm pressed firmly against chest, the other hand on back of the head with the arm down the back. both arms press together (like a vice) the lifeguard uses their feet to begin moving forward and then roles under the casualty to come up along side them but with the casualty noton their back (possibly one of the hardest lifesaving manovers, as the grip must be perfect on the first attempt otherwise the casualty may be given further spinal damage, possibly resulting in paralysis

★ Clothes swimming: The swimmer is wearing clothes that restrict movement when wet, i.e. almost all clothes. This is done to practice situations were the swimmer fell in the water dressed or the rescuer did not have time to undress. Due to the restricted movement and the weight of the wet clothes over water (weightless under water!) an overarm recovery is not possible. Most swimmers swim breaststroke, but any stroke with underwater recovery is feasible.

★ Rescue tube swimming: The lifeguard pulls a flotation device, which is pushed forward when approaching the victim.

Without forward motion

★ Survival floating (also known as ''dead man float''): Lying on the back with minimal leg movement, and staying afloat with the natural buoyancy. Only the face is over the water. This style is only to stay afloat and to rest.

★ Back floating: Similar to the survival floating, except on the breast. The head is raised periodically for breathing. This is very useful for observing objects in the water using a mask or goggles. Often in combination with a snorkel.

★ Treading water: The swimmer is in the water heads up and feet down. Different kicks and hand movements to stay afloat. This is useful to keep the head out of the water for a better view or to catch an object as for example in water polo.

★ Sculling: This is a figure 8 movement of the hands for forward motion or upward lift. Use in surf lifesaving, water polo, synchronized swimming and treading water.