Eliminating Arm Drag while Swimming

I was working with some local future Ironmen last night at the pool and thought I'd share a tip that I gave one of them.  Here goes: 

This swimmer was letting his arm dip low in the water before engaging in the pull - Pretty typical stuff that lots of us do (especially me) when not paying attention to form.  I told him about how doing so creates a lot of drag as the top of the arm pushes against the water.  I told the story about how I distinctly remember watching the Texas A&M swim team practice and how their arms were extended practically parallel to the water's surface after entry.  (Honestly, I was in the water three to five hours at a time training to swim across Lake Tahoe, so I didn't have much else to do.)  They swam so "flat", it really stood out as something fast swimmers do and we should try to emulate.

To illustrate the point, I hopped in the water and pointed my arm down at about a 30 degree angle, asked him to do the same, and then we both started walking forward.  The drag against the top of the arm was so tremendous, it even surprised myself!  

To eliminate this drag and swim faster, make sure that your arms and hands are flat and parallel to the surface of the water during the arm entry, glide, and pre-pull part of your stroke.  Enjoy!