The Over-arm Side Stroke
Having mastered the breast stroke sufficiently to feel comfortable in the water, the pupil is now ready to learn the more advanced swimming strokes, and the best one to take up next is the over-arm side stroke, a method by which Joey Nuttall, of England, held all the world’s records and won all the championship events from 100 yards to one mile, defeating all comers and being unbeatable throughout the world for over twenty-one years.
The over-arm side stroke is still one of the very best methods, and is used by many of the world’s great swimmers, particularly for long distance swimming, as it is not only very easy and comfortable, but requires less exertion than any of the other strokes, and one can glide along smoothly and at a good pace and keep up the movements for an almost indefinite period.
As in many other things where greater speed is required, the over-arm side stroke gives better pace and a longer run, because of the fact that the body, being on the side, presents less resistance than when on the breast, and, by minimizing the negative parts of the stroke, we get a maximum amount of positive action, resulting in more speed, with no greater effort.