Starts, turns and underwaters

Every length starts and ends at a wall. Good turns and a tight streamline are the cheapest speed there is, and you can practise them in any lane swim.

Turns

• Swimming Turns: The Complete Guide – U.S. Masters Swimming. Start here.
• Faster Flip Turns – USMS: freestyle and backstroke
• Faster Open Turns – USMS: breaststroke, butterfly and IM changes
• 3 Myths About Flip Turns (and the Truths Behind Them) – USMS, with a drill to learn the flip in the middle of the pool

Streamline, underwater kick and breakouts

• Push off in a tight streamline (hands stacked, arms squeezing your ears), kick before you lose the speed off the wall, and make the first strokes after the breakout strong ones.
• Dolphin kick for every stroke: Butterfly Kicking Drills – USMS
• Breaststroke pullouts: Breaststroke Timing – USMS

Starts

• Swimming Starts: The Complete Guide – USMS
• Forward Starts: The Complete Guide – USMS
• Backstroke Start Technique Guide – USMS

Practise starts only in the deep end, with a coach or lifeguard's OK: most public lane swims don't allow dives.