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 ?
Parents
Former Member
I find these helpful:
Focus on pressing the chest down on entry while leaving the arms/hands nearer to the water surface. It gets the hips up without much kicking. With the hips up you can be "on top of your stroke" which is easier on the shoulders.
Use the back muscles and not just your triceps to finish the pull. Those back muscles don't tire as fast as triceps do.
Keep your chin in the water on breathing and don't jut it out (easier to breathe). If your body rhythm is good you may find you're rising enough to breathe every stroke without penalty, just like in breaststroke.
I find swimming breaststroke with fins and a single dolphin kick a great way to coordinate the body rhythm with some carryover to swimming fly.
I find these helpful:
Focus on pressing the chest down on entry while leaving the arms/hands nearer to the water surface. It gets the hips up without much kicking. With the hips up you can be "on top of your stroke" which is easier on the shoulders.
Use the back muscles and not just your triceps to finish the pull. Those back muscles don't tire as fast as triceps do.
Keep your chin in the water on breathing and don't jut it out (easier to breathe). If your body rhythm is good you may find you're rising enough to breathe every stroke without penalty, just like in breaststroke.
I find swimming breaststroke with fins and a single dolphin kick a great way to coordinate the body rhythm with some carryover to swimming fly.
