HOT TAKE: Why Balanced Freestyle Beats “Gallop” Every Time

Let’s address one of the most misunderstood—and honestly overused—concepts in swimming:

The “gallop” freestyle.

You’ve seen it.

One arm looks dominant.
The stroke looks aggressive.
There’s a rhythm that feels powerful.

And for some swimmers, it even looks fast.

But here’s the truth:

For most swimmers, the gallop is not a shortcut to speed. It’s a ceiling.

If your goal is to swim faster, more efficiently, and more consistently—balanced freestyle wins every time.

What Is “Gallop” Freestyle Anyway?

Gallop freestyle usually shows up as:

• One arm moving faster or more forcefully than the other
• A slight up-and-down motion in the body
• A rhythm that feels like “strong side / weak side”

It’s often unintentional.

Swimmers don’t decide to gallop.

They fall into it.

Why?

Because something in their stroke isn’t working.

And instead of fixing the root problem, the body compensates.

The Problem With Gallop: You’re Losing Forward Speed

Swimming is simple in one sense:

Everything you do should move you forward.

But gallop freestyle introduces something you don’t want:

Vertical movement.

Instead of moving forward efficiently, you’re:

• Going slightly up
• Then down
• Then forward

That means wasted energy.

And in swimming, wasted energy = slower times.

The Hidden Issue: Imbalance in Your Stroke

The real problem with gallop isn’t the rhythm.

It’s the imbalance.

When one arm dominates:

• You rely too heavily on one side
• Your body rotates unevenly
• Your catch becomes inconsistent

And here’s the kicker:

You’re not holding water equally on both sides.

That’s a massive loss in efficiency.

Because now instead of:

Left side + Right side working together

You have:

One side working… and one side just existing

Balanced Freestyle: What It Actually Means

Balanced freestyle doesn’t mean robotic symmetry.

It means:

• Both arms contribute
• Both sides hold water
• Your stroke is consistent and repeatable

Think of it like this:

Your hand enters the water…

It becomes an anchor

And your body moves past it.

Then the other side does the same.

Back and forth.

Smooth. Controlled. Efficient.

Why Balanced Freestyle Is Faster (Even If It Feels Slower at First)

Here’s where swimmers get tripped up.

Balanced freestyle often feels:

• Less aggressive
• Less “powerful”
• Less rushed

So swimmers think:

“I’m not going as fast.”

But in reality:

You’re going farther per stroke.

That’s the key.

Distance per stroke beats chaos every time.

Because when you:

• Hold more water
• Move farther per pull
• Stay streamlined

You don’t need to rush.

Speed comes naturally.

The Catch Problem Behind Gallop

Most gallop swimmers have one major technical issue:

A weak or broken catch on one side.

That could be:

• Dropping the elbow
• Crossing over the center line
• Not engaging the forearm

So what happens?

One arm grabs water.

The other slips.

And now you’re forced into an uneven rhythm.

Fix the catch…

And the gallop usually disappears.

“But Some Pros Gallop…”

Yes.

Some elite swimmers use a variation of gallop.

But here’s the part people ignore:

They have:

• Elite-level strength
• Perfect timing
• Incredible feel for water

And even then—it’s controlled.

Not accidental.

If you’re not operating at that level (and 99% of swimmers aren’t), copying it is like:

Trying to dunk before you can dribble.

Triathletes and Masters Swimmers: This Hits You Hardest

If you’re a triathlete or masters swimmer, gallop is especially common.

Why?

Because:

• You’re often self-coached
• You rely on feel instead of feedback
• You’re compensating for fatigue or poor technique

The result?

A stroke that feels strong…

But burns energy fast.

Balanced freestyle fixes that.

It gives you:

• Better efficiency
• Lower fatigue
• More sustainable speed

How to Fix a Gallop Stroke

You don’t fix gallop by “trying to be even.”

You fix it by addressing the cause.

Focus on:

1. Catch Mechanics

Are you holding water on BOTH sides?

2. Elbow Position

Are your elbows high and stable during the pull?

3. Entry Line

Are your hands entering straight—or crossing over?

4. Rhythm Control

Can you slow things down and feel both sides working?

If one side feels weaker…

That’s your work.

This Is Where Coaching Changes Everything

Here’s the honest truth:

Most swimmers can’t feel their own imbalance.

You think you’re even.

You’re not.

That’s why:

• Private swim lessons
• Stroke clinics
• Virtual coaching

are so powerful.

Because someone can SEE what you can’t.

And fix it fast.

Final Thought: Power Is Useless Without Balance

Gallop freestyle feels powerful.

Balanced freestyle is powerful.

There’s a difference.

One burns energy.

The other builds speed.

So next time you’re in the water, don’t think:

“How do I go harder?”

Think:

“Are both sides working the same way?”

Because when they are…

That’s when you actually start getting faster.

And that’s why balanced freestyle beats gallop—every single time.

Let’s get to work.