Hello, I'm a UK swimmer (41) who took up swimming following a running injury 4 years ago. A familiar scenario to many. My freestyle and breaststroke is OK and infact I do fairly well in a breaststroke set at the club.
My butterfly is like a stone in the water however. I have chatted to other members , the coach, and watched the good guys, but it does not seem to happen. I get no real leg power on a kick in, kick out rhythym for each arm pull. I know the power comes from the stomach as well as the legs and I know rhythym is important. Has anybody had any great moments of enlightenment. No amount of drill work seems to make a huge difference. Any ideas ?
hello,
if you don't know what to with your legs and body when you're swimming fly then I suggest you not let them get in the way. You're likely to swim fly much faster if you soften up your kick and body movements and concentrate on moving your arms fast and relaxed through a full range. When you swim fly work to keep your momentum going. Take a good push off and come up swimming. Perhaps time yourself in a 25 sprint. See how far you can swim fly before your stroke falls apart. Fly is a very tiring stroke. My favorite fly drill is one arm fly with one arm stroking and the other by my side.
good luck,
ande
Originally posted by Alastair
Hello, I'm a UK swimmer (41) who took up swimming following a running injury 4 years ago. A familiar scenario to many. My freestyle and breaststroke is OK and infact I do fairly well in a breaststroke set at the club.
My butterfly is like a stone in the water however. I have chatted to other members , the coach, and watched the good guys, but it does not seem to happen. I get no real leg power on a kick in, kick out rhythym for each arm pull. I know the power comes from the stomach as well as the legs and I know rhythym is important. Has anybody had any great moments of enlightenment. No amount of drill work seems to make a huge difference. Any ideas ?
hello,
if you don't know what to with your legs and body when you're swimming fly then I suggest you not let them get in the way. You're likely to swim fly much faster if you soften up your kick and body movements and concentrate on moving your arms fast and relaxed through a full range. When you swim fly work to keep your momentum going. Take a good push off and come up swimming. Perhaps time yourself in a 25 sprint. See how far you can swim fly before your stroke falls apart. Fly is a very tiring stroke. My favorite fly drill is one arm fly with one arm stroking and the other by my side.
good luck,
ande
Originally posted by Alastair
Hello, I'm a UK swimmer (41) who took up swimming following a running injury 4 years ago. A familiar scenario to many. My freestyle and breaststroke is OK and infact I do fairly well in a breaststroke set at the club.
My butterfly is like a stone in the water however. I have chatted to other members , the coach, and watched the good guys, but it does not seem to happen. I get no real leg power on a kick in, kick out rhythym for each arm pull. I know the power comes from the stomach as well as the legs and I know rhythym is important. Has anybody had any great moments of enlightenment. No amount of drill work seems to make a huge difference. Any ideas ?
