Hi,
I need help with my butterfly stroke. Does anyone know of any good drills that would help with the timing of breathing? I've been told that I breath too late in my stroke and lift my head too high. When I try to modify my stroke, I get a lung full of water. Any tips?
-GG
Parents
Former Member
when you breath on butterfly the best way to think about it is that you're hiding your breathing. i don't actually lift my head to look forward, i just kick and pull harder to lift myself up and actually breathe with my face looking down - this does take some practice but is worth it in time stakes, because it means that your head is in the right position to get back in the water in time before your hands. this way you can breath much more often without losing any rhythm. you should be breathing when your arms are behind you, just starting to come up out of the water and your head should be back in the water by the time your arms are half way over.
when i teach kids butterfly i get them to do it with fins on. this enables you to get the correct motion much easier (and ensures you are doing the right sort of kick, which is of course what butterfly is all about!)
i'd disagree with lexa, i would never encourage anyone to breath to the side when learning or practicing butterfly, it doesn't encourage the right action. but i do agree that doing a couple of really good strokes is much more beneficial than a few lengths of awful stroke when you're dying!
when you breath on butterfly the best way to think about it is that you're hiding your breathing. i don't actually lift my head to look forward, i just kick and pull harder to lift myself up and actually breathe with my face looking down - this does take some practice but is worth it in time stakes, because it means that your head is in the right position to get back in the water in time before your hands. this way you can breath much more often without losing any rhythm. you should be breathing when your arms are behind you, just starting to come up out of the water and your head should be back in the water by the time your arms are half way over.
when i teach kids butterfly i get them to do it with fins on. this enables you to get the correct motion much easier (and ensures you are doing the right sort of kick, which is of course what butterfly is all about!)
i'd disagree with lexa, i would never encourage anyone to breath to the side when learning or practicing butterfly, it doesn't encourage the right action. but i do agree that doing a couple of really good strokes is much more beneficial than a few lengths of awful stroke when you're dying!
