Despite the fact that I have been swimming forever (played Div I water polo in college) I never learned to swim butterfly very well (at all). I'm recovering from shoulder surgery (old injury -- torn labrum/stretched capsule) and eager to begin swimming again. When I am as close to 100 percent as possible, is it still possible to learn to become a decent flyer? I'm 46, pretty overweight, and want this comeback to be my last one. (I think the local team must be fed up with me showing up every other year for a few months then disappearing). And I'd like to be somebody who does every stroke, every set, finally.
Any and all advice is welcome.
Cherub
I can't speak about the surgery part. As far as learning butterfly, it is possible to learn new tricks, but you may have to completely break down your stroke before you can build it back up.
I bought the Swimming Made Easy book (like Bob recommended) around the new year. My first try at body dolphin made me churn the water without any forward movement. Now that I can kick down the pool with some speed, I found out that my stroke (and kick) was not in rhythm with my body movement, which increased my fatigue rate. Then I went to Nadine's swim clinic, where video showed I was rushing the last part of my underwater pull.
It is still a work in progress. But after improving 2 seconds over the last 4 years (in the 100), I've dropped 3 seconds this past season. (Still slow compared to real flyers, but I was happy about the progress.)
I can't speak about the surgery part. As far as learning butterfly, it is possible to learn new tricks, but you may have to completely break down your stroke before you can build it back up.
I bought the Swimming Made Easy book (like Bob recommended) around the new year. My first try at body dolphin made me churn the water without any forward movement. Now that I can kick down the pool with some speed, I found out that my stroke (and kick) was not in rhythm with my body movement, which increased my fatigue rate. Then I went to Nadine's swim clinic, where video showed I was rushing the last part of my underwater pull.
It is still a work in progress. But after improving 2 seconds over the last 4 years (in the 100), I've dropped 3 seconds this past season. (Still slow compared to real flyers, but I was happy about the progress.)
