Tri Swim Coach Podcast · Dominic Latella

Let's Talk About the Feather: Yeah, That's a Real Thing

·23 min·2 clips

Rotate your hand opposite your body to keep generating force.

This solo episode of the Tri Swim Coach Podcast focuses on the often-overlooked "feathering" motion at the end of the freestyle stroke. Host Kevin Koskella, a dedicated triathlon and open water swimming coach, explains this technical concept drawn from paddle sports. He argues that mastering the feather is crucial for propulsion and shoulder health, yet it remains uncommon knowledge for most swimmers and coaches. Koskella compares the swimmer's arm to a paddleboard oar, which must press outward slightly as it exits the water to circle forward efficiently. He states the feather begins around the waistline as the exact opposite of the catch motion, involving wrist flexion and elbow extension. The host explains that pulling the hand straight up out of the water wastes the hand's potential as a paddle and can push the swimmer downward. He links proper feathering to accessing stronger back muscles like the lats and rhomboids, rather than overusing the shoulder joint or upper traps. A key insight is that the body's rotation naturally pulls the arm inward, so the hand must rotate slightly opposite the hip's rotation to maintain a propulsive position. Koskella claims this motion feels like a shorter stroke, which is beneficial as it prevents hitting a rigid end range of motion. He fascinatingly analogizes the feather to movements in ice skating, where a skater pushes "back and out" to move forward, and even to the angled wheels of a racing wheelchair for better traction. The host suggests swimmers think of themselves as quadrupeds, where front legs never cross the body's midline, or sagittal plane. He asserts that pressing the palm a hand's width away from the thigh allows pushing against denser water, avoiding the turbulent flow close to the body. Koskella describes a "closed loop" system where force from the palm transfers through the shoulder blade to reinforce core engagement. A recommended drill involves sculling with hands wide near the pockets to feel the outward press, progressing to an underwater double-arm recovery. He believes the feather, combined with an opposite-quadrant breathing rhythm, defines a great swimmer more than simply using a straight or bent arm. The tone is instructional and conversational, with Koskella patiently unpacking a complex biomechanical idea using vivid analogies. The style is deeply educational, aimed at swimmers who enjoy granular technical analysis. Competitive triathletes, open water swimmers, and technique-focused pool swimmers eager to improve efficiency and prevent injury would love this episode. Beginners seeking basic stroke instruction or listeners who prefer narrative-driven or interview-based podcasts might skip this dense, solo technical deep-dive.

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