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If you\u2019ve been trying to improve your swim, you\u2019ve likely heard about the concept of an early vertical forearm to improve your pull. If you haven\u2019t, or you need a refresher, think about it this way. <\/strong><\/p>\n Your arm is your paddle, and if you want to move forward, that paddle needs to be moving backward. How effective that paddle is will be determined by how big it is. If you just use your hand, it\u2019s only going to be so big.<\/p>\n However, if you can use your entire forearm as part of your paddle, it\u2019s going to be a lot bigger!<\/p>\n That\u2019s the idea behind an early vertical forearm. To move water backwards with the forearm, the forearm needs to be vertical in the water. That way it faces backward, allowing you to move water backward.<\/p>\n The \u2018early\u2019 part is important because the sooner you can get the forearm in that position, the more water you can move backward. It\u2019s a pretty simple idea, even if it\u2019s difficult to make it happen.<\/p>\n The challenge with actually executing an early vertical forearm is that it\u2019s a counterintuitive motion. It\u2019s unlike anything you do in everyday life or in any other sport. It also doesn\u2019t feel like you\u2019d expect it to.<\/p>\n For all of these reasons, simply thinking about the skill doesn\u2019t always result in much, if any, change. To make a change, you need to be forced to move differently. The following two exercises force you to use your forearm.<\/p>\nUpside-down paddles<\/strong><\/h2>\n