What is the streamline position in swimming?

The streamline is the narrowest, longest body shape in the water: hands stacked, arms behind the ears, body a single line from fingertips to toes. It minimises frontal area and therefore drag – especially important right after the push-off.

How can I reduce water resistance when swimming?

Shrink your frontal area: tight streamline, flat body position, head down, no crossover. Since drag depends on the surface you present, better shape beats more power.

How deep should I push off from the wall?

Around 30 to 40 centimetres below the surface, where wave drag is lowest. Too shallow creates waves; too deep lengthens the path back to the surface.

When should I start pulling after the push-off?

Only when your glide speed drops to your normal swimming speed. Pulling earlier slows you down, because the arm stroke is slower than the momentum of the push-off.

6 min read · Updated on July 17, 2026

The secret of the “spear” in the water: how to halve your drag

Swimmer gliding through the pool in a tight streamline position after the push-off – underwater shot.

There's a moment on every length when you're faster than during any arm stroke: right after you push off the wall. In this glide, your body shape alone decides how much speed you carry – and most swimmers waste valuable metres here.

The key is the streamline. Your body becomes a spear: narrow, long, smooth. Because form drag depends directly on your frontal area, a clean streamline can cut your drag dramatically compared with a sloppy posture.

Why shape decides everything

Water is around 800 times denser than air. Every edge, every splayed arm, every lifted head acts like a brake flap. Drag rises with frontal area – the surface you present to the water.

A spear splits the water; a brick dams it. That's exactly the difference between a tight streamline and a body that pushes through the pool wide and wavy.

The perfect streamline step by step

Build the position as one single line from fingertips to toes. Every spot where you sag costs speed.

One hand over the other, hook the thumb – a narrow tip.
Arms firmly behind the ears, upper arms squeezing the head.
Head neutral, looking down, no lifting.
Engage the core, tilt the pelvis slightly (no arched back).
Legs together, toes pointed – the line ends only at the toes.

The push-off: your free turbo

Push off below the surface, not along it – around 30 to 40 centimetres deep the flow is calmest and wave drag lowest. Only when your push-off speed drops to your swimming speed do you start the first stroke.

Starting to pull straight off the wall slows you down: the arm stroke is slower than the momentum of the push-off. Gliding literally pays off here.

How to train the spear

Measure your glide distance: push off in a perfect streamline and see how far you travel without a stroke. Repeat and try to reach the same mark with less effort. Add streamline kicks (tight position, small dolphin or flutter kick) to hold the line under load.

This streamline isn't only physics for the push-off – it's the base posture you aim for in every phase of your stroke: long in front, narrow, calm.

Frequently asked questions

What is the streamline position in swimming?: The streamline is the narrowest, longest body shape in the water: hands stacked, arms behind the ears, body a single line from fingertips to toes. It minimises frontal area and therefore drag – especially important right after the push-off.
How can I reduce water resistance when swimming?: Shrink your frontal area: tight streamline, flat body position, head down, no crossover. Since drag depends on the surface you present, better shape beats more power.
How deep should I push off from the wall?: Around 30 to 40 centimetres below the surface, where wave drag is lowest. Too shallow creates waves; too deep lengthens the path back to the surface.
When should I start pulling after the push-off?: Only when your glide speed drops to your normal swimming speed. Pulling earlier slows you down, because the arm stroke is slower than the momentum of the push-off.

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