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 ?
Former Member
Lindsay, thanks for the pics, where can I download some of the videos like that from?I tried swim.ee but it doesn't have much...
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 ?
i suggest you only swim fly with good form.
when your stroke falls apart switch strokes or do drills.
There's no need for you imprint terrible fly form.
ande
Originally posted by hooked-on-swimming
Do you guys think swimming butterfly every work-out (for me it is almoat every day) would be too much?I total about 600 meters of butterfly per work-out.Should I keep doing it or is that too mch stress on the shoulders? I have been swimming butterfly about 2 months only...
Do you guys think swimming butterfly every work-out(for me it is almoat every day) would be too much?I total about 600 meters of butterfly per work-out.Should I keep doing it or is that too mch stress on the shoulders?I have been swimming butterfly about 2 months only...
Originally posted by geochuck
When I was at my best for fly I only did a 100 fly per workout and a couple of lengths of kicking. These were done at max speed using good form.
George
were you training for any specific event? I am not sure what events I would like to swim, (I am attempting to sign up for my first meet this summer), but I love fly, and would love to do a 200 fly (in my dreams eventually), but right now I can manage about 50 yards without falling apart. If I were to train for the 200 should I only workout with 100's? or was this for sprinting events?
Jeanette.
I was training for front crawl 100 and added the 100 fly to compete in, unfortunately at that time they did not swim the hundred in the Olympics or Commonwealth games. I just raced in meets that had the 100 fly (held the Canadian record for the 100 fly). I only raced a 200 m fly once and almost died, 1956 Olympics Melborne Australia. They entered me even though the Canadian officials knew I could not do a 200, it was when I was suffering from mono... Now I only swim 50 and 100 free and fly.
George
When I was trying to figure out fly someone told me to lead with my head. Your head should go into the water before your arms do. But also your head should do the movement you want your whole body to do. Watch underwater clips of Phelps or any other good flyer. Their whole body does the undulation movement. Fly is a whole body stroke. The more you engage your entire body the easier it becomes.
Good luck! It takes time, be patient and practice, practice, practice. The coolest thing about fly is one day it will all click and viola!
Swimonandon is so right about fly being a whole body stroke. I've been trying to get deeper with my head and hands. I've noticed that at times this causes me to have a very small third kick. It is maybe less than 2 inches. I don't know where it came from. I take far fewer strokes when I try this and I really feel the glide of my body moving trough the water.
Are are other really good video sites. One I won't mention because you all will use it up too quickly. the ohter is through Western Austrialia's wedsite.
When I was at my best for fly I only did a 100 fly per workout and a couple of lengths of kicking. These were done at max speed using good form.
George
For every question about butterfly I have a picture of Michael Phelps :D
In my experience the key to getting your hips up and breaking the surface with your butt is to press your chest down. This should not be confused with diving down with your hands and arms, note the depth of Phelps' hands, chest, and hips:
