How does balancing your legs on a swing allows you to swing higher and faster?

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I’ve been thinking at this question for a good hour now, but I can’t wrap my mind around the physics involved. Wouldn’t bringing your legs back before the top of the swing (to “swing” them back and keep you going) negate what you’ve gained through the precedent leg throw because of energy conservation?

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3 Answers

Anonymous 0 Comments

It isn’t really about your legs, it’s about shifting your centre of mass. The body lean is more important than the leg swing.

On the way down, you lean back to shift your weight and swing your legs out for a bit of a momentum boost. On the backswing, you do the same in reverse. But it doesn’t work as well in reverse, so you gain most of your swing height when you swing forward.

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