Which strokes burn the most calories

The best swim stroke for burning calories is the butterfly. But you have to use great technique to make it happen. Freestyle is the fastest of all competitive strokes. You burn calories per hour swimming fast freestyle if you weigh pounds. Average lap swimmers can complete an hour swimming freestyle without becoming exhausted because it is an efficient stroke.

You swim the freestyle on your side for most of the time, cutting through the water rather than pushing against it. Freestyle or front crawl is an upper-body-dependent stroke, meaning you propel yourself primarily with your shoulders and upper back. Your hips should not rotate to the same degree as your shoulders, says Swimming. When you swim for an entire hour, let your legs trail behind, kicking slowly.

Although breaststroke is the slowest of all four competitive strokes, it burns as many calories per hour as swimming fast freestyle. You burn calories per hour swimming breaststroke if you weigh pounds, according to Harvard Health Publishing.

You burn so many calories swimming breaststroke because it requires you to power through the water rather than cutting through the water. You face the water broadside when you swim breaststroke and the flat plane of your chest meets with water's resistance. Since butterfly requires the body to be partially lifted out of the water, as well as a strong, well-timed set of kicks, it is almost never swum for more than metres, even by world-class swimmers.

Most people swimming for fitness choose freestyle, and they should remember to use their legs in a steady fashion. My expertise on this topic goes back about 60 years, but then, it was certainly the butterfly that left me the most breathless.

I conclude that this stroke burns the most fuel per minute and per metre. A good way to burn calories in a small pool is to run on the spot at a point in the water between waist and neck deep. For a more intense workout, grasp an edge or corner of the pool, extend your legs horizontally and kick. Alternating speeds can then achieve a leisurely or aerobic calorie burn.

To answer this question — or ask a new one — email lastword newscientist. Questions should be scientific enquiries about everyday phenomena, and both questions and answers should be concise.

We reserve the right to edit items for clarity and style. Those who get regular aerobic exercise, like swimming, have better sleep quality than those who don't. In a study of dementia patients, participation in aquatic exercise improved mood and psychological well-being.

The calorie-burning, mood-boosting, sleep-helping and muscle-building benefits of this exercise likely play roles in this connection. Whether you want to build your stamina, lose weight or maximize your calorie burn, competitive swimming gives you a way to do that. Rather than relying only on yourself to schedule workouts, your team will rely on you to attend practices and improve your skills. Plus, with a team, you have others relying on your ability in the pool.

You cannot miss a workout, or you will let them down. Competitive swimming also gives you a goal to work toward. If you achieve your initial aim, you can continue to compete at higher levels as your skills improve. Give yourself an edge in the water with men's swimsuits , women's swimsuits , goggles and more for competitive swimmers at All American Swim.

Plus, we offer gear for facilities, water fitness and training. Whether you need to shop for your team or yourself, make your first stop All American Swim for the products you need from brands you trust. The store will not work correctly in the case when cookies are disabled.

Other aspects of the workout will determine which of these values you are closer to burning, including the following: Duration: The longer you swim, the higher the total number of burned calories you can reach. Intensity: Hard and fast swimming burns more calories than slow, easy strokes. Efficiency: If you become too efficient at a stroke, you will reduce the number of calories burned. Stroke: Some swim strokes incorporate movement from more parts of the body or require you to work harder, and thus, burn more calories.

Weight: Your body weight contributes to calorie burn. If you weigh more, you will burn more calories. How to Burn Calories Swimming When swimming as an exercise, you will likely burn a lot of calories. Shop Swimming Gear. We'll review each stroke and the benefits it can offer: Breaststroke: One of the lowest calorie-burning strokes is the breaststroke, which averages a burn rate of calories per half hour. However, you can swim longer and build your cardiovascular strength and stamina with this stroke.