Video analysis: Beginner Butterfly

RE: Video analysis: Beginner Butterfly

revchris — Sat, 12 Sep 2015 10:39:31 GMT

Thank you for the additional good suggestions and the video. As my kick has gotten a little bit smaller, I have in fact felt a little bit of soreness in my core after workouts, which I know is a good thing.

RE: Video analysis: Beginner Butterfly

Former Member — Sat, 12 Sep 2015 09:18:45 GMT

Began learning fly a few weeks ago. First 15 yards in video are awful, last ten perhaps less awful. Masters coach says: head down, more rhythm with body and less knees in kick. I'm sure she's right, but I also welcome any other tips or suggestions. Thanks! Here's a link to the video: drive.google.com/.../view you need to gradually develop your core strength and start your kick from your core, not from your knees. this is more than just a matter of technique - unless you are a powerlifter most likely your core muscles are almost completely atrophied - it will take you probably a year to build up your core power to the point where ( assuming you have got your technique at that point ) you will actually be *flying* make sure you practice at least twice a week ( every other day is optimal ) and make sure you can feel your core muscle after each workout, but not to the point of risking injury, and not so much that they're still sore by the next workout. watch this video of Ryan Lochte: www.youtube.com/watch notice the amount of action going on in his core. you will not be able to do this for a while, but your goal should be to eventually be able to do this.

RE: Video analysis: Beginner Butterfly

Swimspire — Wed, 09 Sep 2015 12:48:47 GMT

Glad you're progressing in the butterfly! One note about fins: as many of the commentators here noticed, you tend to kick from your knees and your kick is not finishing completely. One of the problems with fins is that many swimmers inadvertently kick more from the knees in using them. If you end up using fins often and improperly, you will be emphasizing an exaggerated bent knee and not working on the finish of your kick. I would be sure to alternate between kicking with and without them. Keep us posted on your continued progress!

RE: Video analysis: Beginner Butterfly

revchris — Wed, 09 Sep 2015 12:17:33 GMT

Once again, I really appreciate all the great advice! I don't have a new video, but swims seem to have been improving. My times are about the same, but I am able to do a lot more fly without getting exhausted. Still trying to loosen up my hips, but the stroke is shallower now with more forward movement and a smaller kick. One online video suggested kicking your arms out of the water and kicking your arms forward on the reach. This has helped me with the timing of the two kicks. The suggestion to streamline better off the wall has also been helpful, because it has helped me to get a rhythm going and has also kept the stroke a little narrower I think. Thanks again!

RE: Video analysis: Beginner Butterfly

Former Member — Wed, 09 Sep 2015 05:12:01 GMT

Try practicing your kick with fins. You might want to look up what TI calls head lead dolphin. That, plus fins really provided the undulation of the body feel.

RE: Video analysis: Beginner Butterfly

pwolf66 — Tue, 08 Sep 2015 11:51:43 GMT

Very impressive as Fly is the most beautiful of strokes that also requires the most strength, coordination and execution or it looks likes someone is drowning :-) I like the relaxed arm recovery out front, that's something I teach as a primary focus point so you are on the right track there. As someone said, your pull needs to be a little narrower and you need to accelerate the last half of the pull so you can helps your arms exit the water a little easier. I think you are focusing too much on getting your kick in so you are kicking from the knees rather than from the hips as part of the body dolphin movement. My recommendation is to search out the chest press drill for butterfly as I this is my all time favorite drill for young swimmers as it teaches the critical body movement that will help to move the kick more in sync with the body. There should be two kicks, one when the hands exit the water at the completion of the pull and one when then hands enter the water at the end of the recovery. But really, quite a solid foundation. -pw

RE: Video analysis: Beginner Butterfly

orca1946 — Tue, 08 Sep 2015 10:31:08 GMT

I see you putting the kick in at the same time as 2 kicks. Try to do one at the end of the arm stroke and the other as you dive forward and into the water with the arms.

RE: Video analysis: Beginner Butterfly

swoomer — Tue, 08 Sep 2015 08:20:23 GMT

RE: Video analysis: Beginner Butterfly

Former Member — Sat, 05 Sep 2015 12:09:04 GMT

Revchris, I've looked again at your video. I think it might help if you tried not to put too much effort into your kick. The secret to fly (if there is a secret) is to hold your glide momentarily. As you dive down, your bottom needs to break the surface.

RE: Video analysis: Beginner Butterfly

revchris — Sat, 05 Sep 2015 02:34:40 GMT

Great video. Thanks for sharing it. I had to chuckle when viewing it, because the two people doing the kick correctly appear to be the age of my coach, and the one guy shown doing it incorrectly looks to be about my age (50). But I hasten to say there's nothing keeping me from doing the kick correctly, given that we've got plenty of older swimmers on our team who can clip right along with a solid butterfly stroke. The video stresses the connection between the chest going down and the hips up, which was the very thing my coach stressed at the end of our lesson. Everybody's comments on this thread have given me some great things to work on beyond what my coach suggested, but they've also confirmed that my coach knows her stuff. Thanks again!

RE: Video analysis: Beginner Butterfly

Former Member — Fri, 04 Sep 2015 15:25:18 GMT

Hi Revchris. I would agree with others here - not bad at all for someone who is attempting to swim butterfly. Can I suggest you try this. I think I'd be inclined to slow down the stroke. When your arms enter the water, don't be in too much of a hurry to start your pull. If you hold your dive, you will allow your body to follow through. This will give you an undulating stroke, which all butterfliers aim for. Start your pull to bring yourself up to the surface - if this makes sense? It's undulation you should be aiming for. If you can keep posting a video here it would help. I too, like the pool.

RE: Video analysis: Beginner Butterfly

gobears — Fri, 04 Sep 2015 05:58:10 GMT

I looked online for a good head lead body dolphin drill video and the best one I could find was this: www.youtube.com/watch Try this with your arms at your sides and only letting your kick be a snap at the end of a total body movement (rather than a separate movement from the knees). The more you press your chest at the front of the stroke and get your hips up - the better, IMO...

RE: Video analysis: Beginner Butterfly

revchris — Fri, 04 Sep 2015 05:49:05 GMT

Yep, almost all the suggestions come back to finding the rythm needed for undulation. That's what barely begins to emerge the last ten yards in the video. My coach has had me work some with one-armed fly and just dolphin kicking with fins. I can "feel it" some with the fins, so I think I will get there. Will post another video in a few weeks, this time probably from the humble public pool where our Masters team trains!

RE: Video analysis: Beginner Butterfly

Gary P — Thu, 03 Sep 2015 12:05:11 GMT

Looks pretty good for a beginner. The most obvious thing to me was something your coach already said; less knee bend on the kick. The power should come more from your core. Keep working at it, though. Now I gotta ask, is that a public pool or somebody's home? That's almost exactly how I'd imagine my personal training pool had I enough money and property to build one.

RE: Video analysis: Beginner Butterfly

revchris — Thu, 03 Sep 2015 10:59:39 GMT

My thanks to Swimspire and everyone else for their encouragement and suggestions!

RE: Video analysis: Beginner Butterfly

revchris — Thu, 03 Sep 2015 10:57:27 GMT

Thanks, Steve. Had not thought about the push off the wall. I appreciate the tip.

RE: Video analysis: Beginner Butterfly

__steve__ — Thu, 03 Sep 2015 10:42:45 GMT

Congratulations I am also not an expert, others will chime in for details, but addressing a few simple areas I notice might help. Tighter streamline off the wall Keep the first several dolphin kicks (before strokes start) under water. Your pushing bubbles there Try to minimally lift head for breathing - flatter These may maintain momentum and postpone fatigue good job

RE: Video analysis: Beginner Butterfly

Elaine Krugman — Thu, 03 Sep 2015 09:25:57 GMT

RE: Video analysis: Beginner Butterfly

Swimspire — Thu, 03 Sep 2015 01:43:54 GMT

RevChris, it's great to see that you have arrived at this stage of the butterfly in such a short period of time - but also good for you to seek a second opinion! There are a few aspects of the stroke you need to work on. Two areas that stand out are the timing of your second kick, and the insweep of your pull, which is too wide. You also need to develop a better finish. Good luck!

RE: Video analysis: Beginner Butterfly

revchris — Thu, 03 Sep 2015 01:33:34 GMT

I wondered if anybody would ask about that pool! One of our masters coaches does some lessons in that pool, which is in a private home. Very nice setup. I, too, am envious!