Bumpy tourism is a bad example—bad habits hidden beneath the spotlight.

•5 min read
Bumpy tourism is a bad example—bad habits hidden beneath the spotlight.
Some renowned swimmers exhibit noticeable undulations while swimming freestyle, with a clear disparity in their left-to-right stroke rhythms, resulting in an uneven, bumpy forward motion. Yet, precisely because these athletes have achieved victory in competitions, their technique is now regarded as highly effective—and even worthy of being studied and emulated as a legitimate style of freestyle swimming.
This is a classic example of cognitive bias: when a martial arts master unexpectedly loses his eyesight, he diligently trains himself to rely on hearing to determine his position—earning him the nickname "Blind Swordsman." But that doesn’t mean you need to blind yourself first if you want to learn martial arts from him. As for "undulating swim," it typically occurs in short-distance swimming events, where swimmers prioritize maintaining a high stroke frequency over maximizing stroke length. This approach inadvertently accentuates the natural asymmetry between the left and right sides of the body during the swimming motion—while simultaneously highlighting any underlying imbalances in lateral symmetry.
Generally speaking, both arm strength and stroke rhythm should be balanced on the left and right sides—just as in running, where the cadence of the two legs should be as coordinated as possible. However, in sprinting, prioritizing a faster cadence over maintaining the largest possible stride length can increase the risk of falling if the pace becomes too rapid. The reason is that an excessively fast running rhythm amplifies any natural differences between the two legs.
The purpose of this article is to ensure that swimming enthusiasts aren’t misled by the aura surrounding professional swimmers, leading them to mistakenly view these athletes’ flawed techniques as a worthy style to emulate or promote. If they can address the "bumpy" swimming approach, there may still be room for improvement in their competitive performance.
1. Comparing Pan Zhanle and Sun Yang
Pan Zhanle stands about 190 cm tall, while Sun Yang is approximately 198 cm tall. Compared to Sun Yang, who excels in steady, long-distance freestyle swimming with a relatively even pace and exceptional finishing strength—often allowing him to surge ahead in the final stretch—Pan Zhanle shines in short-distance sprints, boasting greater explosive power and blazing speed during the initial phase of the race.
Looking at the swimming techniques of most renowned athletes, the "bumpy stroke" is actually an exception. In freestyle swimming, the key is to increase your stroke frequency while maintaining as consistent a stroke length as possible. Although sprint events rely more heavily on a swimmer's anaerobic capacity, a stable stroke length still plays a decisive role in determining overall performance. Notice that even in a 100-meter freestyle race, there’s often a noticeable difference between the speed during the first half and the second half of the race.
2. When performing the high-elbow catch and push-through, be sure to maintain a sense of resistance.
Efficient water propulsion in freestyle swimming begins with a high-elbow catch, but it’s crucial to avoid pushing too shallowly. Don’t rely solely on your palm for power—instead, gradually rotate your arm inward while locking the elbow joint. This action creates a stable, rigid "arm bend" between your upper and lower arms. When pushing the water backward, visualize this arm bend as a large fan—similar to an elephant’s ear—where the entire fan moves backward to generate thrust, rather than just your tiny palm doing the work.
After experiencing the feeling of pushing water as described above, you’ll notice the water feels surprisingly solid—and even perceive a sticky, forceful sensation on the surface of your arm. In contrast, when pushing water effortlessly, there’s no such noticeable resistance, and your arm remains smooth and free of any unusual sensations.
Additionally, when performing the pull-through motion, maintain the angle between your upper and lower arms relatively constant while carefully controlling the depth of your arm underwater. This principle mirrors how the breaststroke kick pushes water backward and downward—being deeper in the water provides more effective propulsion. Avoid pushing too shallowly, as doing so may temporarily boost your stroke frequency but severely diminishes the overall efficiency of your pull, ultimately leading to a less rewarding effort. Some swimmers may even experience a "bumpy" swimming pattern if the depths at which their left and right arms enter the water differ significantly—this, too, is an incorrect technique.
3. Coordination of leg kicks, arm pulls, and breathing
The primary source of propulsion in freestyle swimming comes from pushing the water backward—but it’s not just the arms doing the work. Instead, swimmers engage their entire body to generate powerful strokes. Initially, this involves rotating the torso and activating the latissimus dorsi muscles to maximize pushing force. As the stroke progresses, core strength and the latissimus dorsi work together to further enhance propulsion. Moreover, the flutter kick transfers power from the lower body through the core to the upper body, creating a seamless synergy between leg movements and arm pushes.
In short-distance sprints, where oxygen demand isn’t yet significantly high, you can reduce the frequency of head turns for breathing while still maintaining muscle strength. Importantly, these breath-turns should be quick, seamlessly timed with the body’s lateral rotation—meaning breathing aligns naturally with the push phase underwater. For longer-distance swimming, however, after turning your head to breathe, exhale slowly and smoothly underwater, focusing on relaxation rather than rushing. This breathing rhythm shouldn’t be compared to that used in short-distance swimming.

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