Why is it faster to swim Backstroke with a straight arm coming up out of the water?

Wouldn't it be faster to have a bent elbow recovery, like for Crawl, so the arm can get back in the water faster?

Like reach behind you and stretch the arm just as it's going into the water? Instead of bring the hand all the way up which requires more powerful kicking?

Is it to reduce drag? More optimal anatomically?

My backstroke is nowhere near good enough where I can test and time this myself to figure it out.

submitted by /u/Marca--Texto
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