I noticed today that I do this:
www.youtube.com/watch
:(
My kick is definitely already done by the time I need to breathe, so my arms need to push down to get my head out of the water, wasting precious energy that would better be used to push forward. All this up-and-down means I have died at the end of nearly every 200 butterfly I've ever done.
How do I fix it?
I agree with rtodd about the entry position, at or just outside of the shoulder. One key to kick timing, and one that can be done well in one arm fly (you admit you felt it once) is making sure that you press the chest down upon entry, which loads the hips up to the surface. Chest press down, and hips up at the same time. then, as the catch progresses into the stroke, your shoulders will rise, lowering the hips, and voila, the legs bend at the knees, loading you up for the kick at the proper time. Rob Copeland is correct, you must stay away from emulating freestyle's straight spine posture. You really do need to press the chest upon entry, and emulate the rhythm of a dolphin. As you do the one arm drill, your spine will undulate; arching, and bowing, rather like a sine wave pattern.. Hope this helps. Good luck.
I agree with rtodd about the entry position, at or just outside of the shoulder. One key to kick timing, and one that can be done well in one arm fly (you admit you felt it once) is making sure that you press the chest down upon entry, which loads the hips up to the surface. Chest press down, and hips up at the same time. then, as the catch progresses into the stroke, your shoulders will rise, lowering the hips, and voila, the legs bend at the knees, loading you up for the kick at the proper time. Rob Copeland is correct, you must stay away from emulating freestyle's straight spine posture. You really do need to press the chest upon entry, and emulate the rhythm of a dolphin. As you do the one arm drill, your spine will undulate; arching, and bowing, rather like a sine wave pattern.. Hope this helps. Good luck.
