To improve speed, swimmers should spread their fingers slightly apart and rake the water, according to a new study.
The study, published in the Journal of Applied Biomechanics, found the best results were seen with a 10-degree spreading of the fingers. Using computer simulations and 3d-printed models in wind tunnels, researchers assessed five levels of finger spreading from zero degrees to 20.
The researchers said letting some water sip between the fingers can increase the surface area of the hand and outweigh the water lost at the right degree of finger spreading.
“Using optimal finger spreading might give a competitive edge,” study co-author Josje van Houwelingen told Live Science.
Researchers found in a 50-meter freestyle that finger spreading resulted in a 0.6-second improvement. In competitive swimming, this can make all the difference. In the women’s 50-meter freestyle final in Rio this summer, the difference between the first and sixth place was just 0.12 seconds, according to van Houwelingen.